Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s power slump makes Blue Jays decision on Ty France look worse

When the Toronto Blue Jays entered the 2026 MLB season, they were expecting big things from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. After having a sensational 2025 postseason in which he powered the Jays all the way to the World Series, Toronto fans became spoiled and was looking for such an impact from Guerrero from here on out. However, the 27-year-old superstar has suffered a major power slump so far this season.

The more that the Blue Jays continue to experience that drop off in offensive output, the more it made their decision to let Ty France walk in free agency look even worse. Why is that?

Ty France has carried his weight this season in San Diego

Let’s just say France has been putting together a fantastic 2026 campaign with the San Diego Padres. Signed to a measly one-year, $1.35 million contract, the Padres have been getting massive value from the 31-year-old veteran infielder. Playing primarily in a platoon role at first base, France has compiled a solid .265 batting average, .817 OPS, along with 21 runs scored, eight doubles, 10 home runs and 30 RBIs in just 64 games played and 185 total at-bats.

Just for comparison, Guerrero currently sports just a .268 average, a disappointing .699 OPS, together with just 13 doubles, four home runs and 35 RBIs in 83 total games played in 306 total at-bats with the Jays this season.

With almost 20 more games played and 120 more at-bats, Vladdy has just five more doubles and RBIs and six home runs less than France, not to mention an OPS difference of almost 120 points. On top of that, the 31-year-old infielder already has two multi-homer games this year, whereas Guerrero has yet to register one.

Not to say that France would have replaced Guerrero at first base in the lineup had the former re-signed with Toronto. But France certainly would have helped compensate for some of the lost offensive production by the Jays' current first baseman. In addition, with a productive bat like France's, it would allow Toronto to utilize him at first base while slotting Guerrero into the designated hitter spot so that he can focus on making the right adjustments to his hitting to regain his stroke.

It hasn’t just been just the offensive production as well. As of July 3, France ranked first among MLB first baseman in defensive runs saved leaders with 10. Guerrero, by the way, had at least a respectable five DRS to remain among the top five in the same group.

Nevertheless, the more Guerrero and the Toronto offense keeps struggling, the more it makes one wonder why the Jays couldn’t just shell out another $1 million and change to retain France, as it certainly would have been a super-value insurance investment for the Blue Jays. As a result, all Jays fans can do now is watch the former Blue Jay excel with the Padres while Toronto is just left to wonder what could have been.

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