New report sheds light on deadline for potential Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extension deadline

For most baseball fans, the start of spring training is a cause for celebration after a cold, unforgiving, baseball-less winter. But for Blue Jays fans, it's understandable if this year's start results in anxiety and full-body chills thanks to the status of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract talks with the Blue Jays.

Guerrero, who has long been the heartbeat of the Blue Jays' lineup, is due for free agency after 2025, and has set Monday (the same day as the Blue Jays' first full-squad workout) as the deadline for any extension talks with the Blue Jays.

And, according to a new report for MLB.com's Keegan Matheston, any potential extension won't happen before then.

"I don't think today or the next day matters," Matheson said on an interview with OverDrive1050. "If anything happens, it's going to be on Monday's deadline day. If that passes... we've got a troubling conversation to have about this team."

And Matheson's right in saying that a lack of an extension would lead to an uncomfortable conversation about the Blue Jays. Yes, Toronto's front office brought in reinforcements in the form of Anthony Santander, Jeff Hoffman and Anthony Santander, but all of that will likely become a moot point if Guerrero isn't extended.

When it comes to Guerrero's contract, Matheson shed some more light on the type of money Guerrero would be looking for.

"It likely starts with ($400 million)," Matheson said. "The number of years matters when you break down the annual value too."

Matheson said annual value will likely be between $35 to $40 million a year, which is around the amount Alex Bregman signed with the Red Sox for.

One thing going in Guerrero's favor has been the amount of money spent on top-tier free agents this year. Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto both netted $700 million contracts. Aaron Judge signed a $360 million contract. Yoshinobu Yamamoto got $325 million.

While Guerrero is a different player than everyone listed, he's still one of the top talents in baseball and the definition of a homegrown star. But will his internal value match up with the how the Blue Jays view him? It looks like we'll have to wait until Monday to find out.

"As those numbers rise, every number beneath them rises," Matheson said. "I think that number has been a moving target and has been moving in a way that Vladdy loves."