Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has long expressed his desire to be a Toronto Blue Jay for life. However, after failing to agree on a contract extension before his self-imposed deadline on Monday, the slugger’s future with the franchise is now in limbo.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the 25-year-old first baseman revealed that negotiations with the Blue Jays lasted until 10:30 p.m. ET the night before, but both sides remained far apart on terms.
“They had their numbers. I had my numbers,” Guerrero said through interpreter Hector Lebro, signaling that Toronto’s offers didn’t come close to meeting his expectations.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins described the team’s offers as “record-setting”—at least in terms of franchise history—insisting that Guerrero would have been “one of the highest-paid players in the game.” But without a deal in place, Guerrero made his stance clear, “I’m here. We didn’t get an agreement. Now they’re going to have to compete with 29 other teams.”
A four-time All-Star, Guerrero posted a .264/.345/.444 slash line last season, launching 30 home runs and driving in 103 runs. With three seasons of at least 30 home runs and four consecutive years with at least 90 RBIs, he remains one of baseball’s premier offensive threats. Entering his seventh season in Toronto, he carries a career .288 batting average and a reputation as a cornerstone bat.
The Blue Jays’ inability to secure Guerrero long-term comes after a frustrating offseason in which they pursued, but failed to land, marquee names like Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Roki Sasaki, and Pete Alonso. Now, the possibility of losing both Guerrero and shortstop Bo Bichette, who is set to hit free agency after the 2025 season, looms large for the franchise.
Despite the impasse, Guerrero reiterated his commitment to staying in Toronto, saying, “I will do anything, everything I can to stay here because I want to be here.” He also made it clear that winning is a major factor in his decision-making process.
Though the Blue Jays have made three postseason appearances since Guerrero debuted, they have yet to win a single playoff game, suffering three straight wild-card round sweeps. With his sights set on winning a championship, Guerrero’s comments hinted that he could seek opportunities elsewhere if Toronto doesn’t prove capable of building a legitimate contender.
“Winning team,” Guerrero said when asked what he would prioritize in free agency. “That’s what I’ll be looking for. As you guys know, my dad played a lot of years. He never won a World Series. My personal goal is to win a World Series and give the ring to my dad.”
With Guerrero’s power bat and name recognition, he will undoubtedly be one of the most coveted free agents in 2026. If the Blue Jays don’t find a way to retain their franchise cornerstone, they may soon face the harsh reality of watching him chase that elusive championship elsewhere.