Lack of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extension means Blue Jays should rebuild

Now that Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s self-imposed deadline for an extension came and went with no deal, it's time for the Blue Jays to plan for a life without him.

If you've ever watched the NFL, you've likely seen players drop the ball inches before scoring and give the ball to their opponent. Well, those players now have company in Blue Jays' general manager Ross Atkins and team president Mark Shapiro. Let’s rip the Band-Aid off and just say it: this team is cooked. Burnt toast. Yesterday’s news.

They had the core, the window and chance to build a dynasty… and instead produced back-to-back seasons of underachievement complete with a playoff faceplant and an offense that would barely be able to hold its on a slow-pitch beer league. And now it seems like they're going to let Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walk into the sunset without an extension.

So, what do Blue Jays fans do? Panic? Cry? Pretend everything’s fine and keep running it back? No. It's time to embrace the chaos and do the only rational thing left: blow it up and rebuild. That’s right. Tear it all down. Strip it for parts. Start fresh. The dream is dead, long live the next dream.

1. Trade Vladdy and Bichette before it’s too late (maybe together)

I know this is like breaking up with your high school sweetheart. It hurts bad. But the reality is Guerrero and Bichette are entering their walk years and it doesn't seem like either of them will sign a contract anything soon. So, it's important Toronto doesn't make the same mistake it made with Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez, or, God help us, Josh Donaldson. Get ahead of it and trade them now.

Imagine the return... likely a king’s ransom of top prospects and young stars. Teams will sell their souls for a power bat like Guerrero or a pure hitter like Bichette. You want to fix the farm system? This is how you do it since they could likely each net at least one MLB ready prospect along with a couple of developmental players. Or they could shoot for the moon and try to get a superstar like Fernando Tatis Jr.

2. Empty the roster of anything not nailed down

If you’re rebuilding, you rebuild properly. That means everything must go! Kevin Gausman? Great pitcher, but he’s 33 next year, so time to flip him for prospects. The same can be said for Chris Bassitt, José Berríos, Chad Green and Yimi García.

This isn't the Blue Jays' year, and all of these guys could net a good haul in return. Toronto shouldn't stop there either. If they're smart, they'd put George Springer and Alejandro Kirk on the trade block since they likely won't be a part of the next contention window.

The only guys who stay? Anyone under 30 who has some upside. You start with Addison Barger, Davis Schneider and Orelvis Martinez and go from there. Everyone else? Gone. Take a page out of the Tampa Bay Rays' book.

3. Restock the farm like it's 2016 again

Remember when the Jays had a pipeline so deep that they could trade away top prospects for David Price, Troy Tulowitzki, and Josh Donaldson and still be competitive? Yeah, those days are long gone.

Right now, the farm system is running on fumes, and the Jays are relying on reclamation projects and lifetime Triple-A players to fill in the gaps. Every trade talk should start with hitters who are fast, have positional versatility and are comfortable hitting with runners on base along with durable pitchers.

The Orioles have developed a plethora of young talent who have become cornerstone pieces, and the Blue Jays should follow that blueprint. The goal isn’t to be good in 2025 or 2026, but to build the next great Blue Jays team for 2027 and beyond.

4. Stop playing the middle and pick a land

The worst thing a team can do is pretend it’s still in the postseason when it’s clearly not. And yet, that’s exactly what the Jays have done for the last two years. They didn’t go all-in when they had a shot, and they didn’t rebuild when it was clear they weren’t good enough. Instead, they played it safe, held onto expiring assets, and ended up with nothing to show for it.

Enough of this half-measure nonsense. You’re either a World Series contender (meaning you truly believe you can beat the Yankees or Dodgers four times in two weeks) or you’re rebuilding. There’s no in-between. If the Jays finally accept reality and commit to a proper teardown, they can start fresh and build something real. Otherwise, we’re looking at another decade of “almost-but-not-quite.”

5. Get a Front Office That Actually Has a Vision

This iteration of Toronto's front office has had plenty of time to build a winner, and they haven’t done it. Their strategy is about as clear as a Toronto weather forecast: one day it’s “win now,” the next it’s “we like our guys."

Enough. It’s time for new leadership with a real plan. The team needs someone who understands development combined stronger negotiation skills. Someone who doesn’t just sign aging veterans and pray for the best. Someone who can actually construct a young, dynamic and sustainable team.

The bottom line

This is it, Blue Jays. The end of an era. There's no point in delaying the inevitable: the dream Toronto held from 2021-2024 is over. Tear it down. Build it back up. Do it the right way. If the choice is between five years of mediocrity or three years of rebuilding followed by a real championship window, I think we all know what the smart move is.

And if the Jays don’t do it? Well, I hear the Expos might be making a comeback. Just saying.