Vladimir Guerrero Jr. already has his sights set on another deep playoff run

Had it not been for one of the most improbable World Series home runs in history, the Toronto Blue Jays would be singing a far different tune this week. Alas, Miguel Rojas (and Will Smith) answered the call just in the nick of time for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and instead of holding their first Commissioner's Trophy since 1993, the Blue Jays left the Fall Classic empty-handed.

Fret not, though. The majority of the team's core is returning, including all-important trade deadline acquisition Shane Bieber after the 2020 AL Cy Young winner opted into the final year of his contract. If the front office can pull off a miracle and convince Bo Bichette to re-sign, the Blue Jays will return practically all of the key players who made the 2025 World Series run possible.

Naturally, there's optimism from within the franchise, including postseason hero Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who promised Blue Jays fans that they'd be back to capture what's rightfully theirs.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. optimistic Blue Jays can finish the job in 2026

“I feel proud of myself, proud of my team with what I accomplished this season,” Guerrero told The Toronto Sun. “Obviously, it’s not the way we wanted to end it. But we lost one battle, we haven’t lost the war yet. We’ve got to move forward. I’m very proud of myself and my teammates and we’ll be back.”

Disheartening though that "one battle" was, Guerrero is correct that the Blue Jays have a path back to title contention in the future. His presence in the lineup alone ensures that Toronto will field a quality offense, and sustained excellence from the likes of George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, and postseason history-maker Ernie Clement should give the ALCS MVP the ample support he needs. Bounce-back performances at the plate from Anthony Santander and Andrés Giménez will only make that job easier.

Likewise, the starting rotation will feature Bieber, incumbent ace Kevin Gausman, and rookie sensation Trey Yesavage. If José Berrios can return to full strength following his late-season elbow injury, then all the better. Beyond the obvious desire to win a championship, it's no surprise Guerrero wants to get back to October — it's a stage he's clearly meant to thrive in. He hit .397/.494/.795 with eight home runs and twice as many walks as strikeouts during the Blue Jays' postseason march.

With a long offseason to reflect and recover from the World Series loss, Guerrero and the Blue Jays should be in a good position to right their Game 7 wrongs in 2026.