The Toronto Blue Jays missed out on some big-name free agents this offseason, but they have still started the season fairly strong. Still, the undeniable reality is that Juan Soto chose to sign with the New York Mets, Pete Alonso decided to return to the Mets, Roki Sasaki chose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Corbin Burnes chose to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
With those players deciding against joining the Blue Jays, fans' focus turned to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and his contract situation.
Recently, there has been buzz mounting on a potential extension inching closer to getting done, and speculation started to rise on Friday (Apr. 4) when Mike Rodriguez reported that the Blue Jays and Guerrero Jr. were very close to reaching an agreement on a new contract worth more than $500 million.
When approached following Friday's game at Citi Field, Guerrero Jr. played slightly coy regarding extension talks, but certainly didn't admit to anything inching close to completion.
I asked Vladimir Guerrero Jr. if he's close to a deal with the Blue Jays.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) April 4, 2025
(In Spanish): "Well, until now, I don't know anything. I've always tried to talk to my agent and I've always left that to my agent. I focus on playing. Until now, I don't know what you're talking about."
Buzz mounting around potential Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr. contract extension
Guerrero Jr. is one of the key players on the Blue Jays, and has been their most popular player in the lineup since joining the team. He quickly became a fan favourite, so when the two sides couldn't reach an agreement before the 2025 season got underway, fans were devastated. However, it seems like they might be closer than some expected as the season moves along.
Through 30 at-bats this season, Guerrero Jr. has a .267 batting average with no home runs and three runs batted in, adding a .710 OPS. Last season, he had a .323 batting average, adding 30 home runs and 103 RBI with two stolen bases and a .940 OPS. He has proven himself to be an elite player on both sides of the field, and the first baseman is expected to receive a massive deal after 2025, regardless of where he signs.
While no major sources, or the Blue Jays themselves, have reported this extension rumour to be true just yet, it's exciting that things seem to be getting closer and closer. Time will tell how accurate the report actually is, but if it's true that the two sides are inching closer to what will be the largest extension in Blue Jays history, fans will have even more to celebrate after a hot start to their 2025 campaign.