Blue Jays Make Another Offer To Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the Toronto Blue Jays have made another offer in their negotiations with All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but a gap still remains between the two sides. Guerrero reportedly made a final offer to the Blue Jays during spring training for 15 years and less than $600 million. It makes tons of sense for Toronto to be hesitant to give a player like Guerrero a deal that long, although he is only 26 years old and is coming off his fourth straight All-Star appearance. He slashed .323/.396/.544 with a .940 OPS, 30 home runs, 103 RBI and 98 runs scored in 159 games played in 2024 in his sixth year in the big leagues. Contract issues aside, Vlad is RotoBaller's top-ranked fantasy first baseman after he finished last year as a top-15 overall hitter in MLB.
Mark Shapiro Optimistic On Extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports that Toronto Blue Jays CEO Mark Shapiro believes the team will reach an agreement with first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on an extension. "We have such a clear alignment on the desired outcome," said Shapiro. "Vlad wants to play his whole career as a Toronto Blue Jay. We want him to end his career in a Blue Jays uniform...That's a pretty good place to start." When negotiations were last reported, Vladdy Jr. and the Jays were roughly $50 million apart, as the star slugger is looking for a contract similar to that of New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto. Guerrero Jr. hit a career-high .323 last season and has not played in fewer than 156 games since the start of 2021. Whether both parties will strike a deal remains to be seen. Regardless, the 26-year-old is RotoBaller's top option at first base and should be one of the more productive bats overall in 2025.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Asked For Less Than $600 Million
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says that the latest contract-extension proposal his representatives presented to the team was for 15 years and significantly lower than outfielder Juan Soto's deal with the New York Mets -- even lower than $600 million. Toronto and Guerrero were unable to agree on anything before the start of spring training, setting him up to be a free agent after the 2025 season. "I'm looking for 14 [years]. I would like 14, 15, even 20 if they give them to me, but doing it the right way," Guerrero said. In seven games this spring, the 25-year-old slugger is hitting .412 with a 1.121 OPS, a homer and three RBI in seven games. Contract issues aside, Guerrero is the top-ranked fantasy first baseman at RotoBaller this year and has added protection in outfielder Anthony Santander.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. To Hit In Two-Hole This Year
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said on Thursday that he plans to bat first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the two-hole this year, with new outfielder Anthony Santander behind him in the No. 3 spot. "2,3 Vlad and Tony (Santander), and then from there could be Bo (Bichette).. could be Bo 1, could be Bo 4, depending on who we're facing," Schneider said. Guerrero mostly hit third for the Blue Jays in 2024 despite beginning the season in the two-hole. The 25-year-old has been an All-Star each of the last four seasons and went on to hit .323/.396/.544 with a .940 OPS, 30 home runs, 103 RBI and 98 runs scored in 697 plate appearances and 159 games played. Especially with added protection in Santander behind him in the batting order, Vladdy should be considered a top-15 fantasy hitter. He finished last year as the top fantasy first baseman and is ranked there heading into his seventh big-league season.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Unable To Reach Contract Extension With Toronto
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was unable to reach a contract extension with the team before the set deadline. Earlier in the offseason, the first baseman set a February 18 deadline for contract discussions to not interfere with spring training. However, both sides were unable to come to an agreement and will now resume talks at the conclusion of the season. The 25-year-old is set to reach free agency following the 2025 campaign and will likely be the top player on the open market. Last season, Guerrero posted an impressive .323/.396/.544 slash line with 30 home runs and two stolen bases. Under the hood, he generated an elite .408 xwOBA, .321 xBA, and a .567 xSLG, which placed him in the 98th percentile among qualified hitters. He has hit at least 30 home runs in three of his previous four campaigns and held an overall .293/.370/.517 line over this stretch. Guerrero should be viewed as the consensus top first baseman in all formats heading into the 2025 campaign.
Blue Jays Continue To Work On Extension For Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins acknowledged that talks with first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remain ongoing on a potential contract extension with the start of spring training coming next week. Guerrero has reportedly set a self-imposed deadline for contract talks for the start of spring training, and it's been widely reported that he is looking for at least $100 million more than the $340 million deal the Blue Jays reportedly offered earlier this offseason. The implication is that if Toronto doesn't make progress with Guerrero soon, he will leave in free agency after the 2025 season. Contract issues aside, Vladdy Jr. is in his prime offensively and is ranked as RotoBaller's top fantasy first baseman after the four-time All-Star slashed .323/.396/.544 with a .940 OPS, 30 homers and 103 RBI in 159 games last year.
Blue Jays Have No Intention Of Trading Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Toronto Blue Jays have no intention of trading first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Nightengale noted that even if the Blue Jays sign free agent Pete Alonso, Guerrero is expected to remain on the roster. If Alonso inks a deal with Toronto, this would likely shift Guerrero back to the hot corner and would provide insurance at first base if Guerrero were to walk in free agency after the 2025 season. Guerrero and the Blue Jays have begun contract discussions but have been unable to come to an agreement on a long-term deal. Last summer, Guerrero enjoyed an excellent season as he posted a stellar .323/.396/.544 line with 30 home runs and 103 RBI. He generated elite metrics such as a .408 xwOBA, .321 xBA, and a 54.9% hard-hit rate, which were all within the 98th percentile among active hitters. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor this situation, as Alonso would bring another much-needed impact bat to the Toronto starting nine.
According to Andy Martino of SNY, the New York Mets have checked in on the availability of Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Guerrero is set to hit the free agent market following the 2025 season. The Blue Jays have prioritized extending Guerrero but remain far from a contract. Both sides have established a deadline to end talks on February 18, when the first team workout will occur. Martino noted that it is far from certain the star infielder will ever be available for trade. However, if conservation talks continue to remain unsuccessful and the Blue Jays fall out of the playoff picture, they could entertain a trade before he hits free agency. The Mets would have to send Toronto several of their top prospects to acquire the 25-year-old. If he hits the free-agent market, he will be in store for a massive contract. Last summer, Guerrero posted a stellar .323/.396/.544 line with 30 home runs. Under the hood, he generated an impressive .408 xwOBA and a 54.9% hard-hit rate. Fantasy managers should view Guerrero as the consensus No.1 first baseman in all fantasy formats.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Given Contract-Extension Deadline
According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet, the Toronto Blue Jays and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have established February 18 as the deadline for contract extension talks. This is the same day as the team's first full-squad workout. The Blue Jays remain focused on extending their superstar, but this deadline will ensure that contract talks are put on hold once preparation for the 2025 season is underway. Sources have suggested the Blue Jays are more focused on extending Guerrero than shortstop Bo Bichette, who is also set to hit the open market after the 2025 season. Guerrero and the Blue Jays agreed to a $28.5 million deal to avoid arbitration last week. Last summer, the 25-year-old posted a stellar .323/.396/.544 line with 30 home runs and two stolen bases. Given his elite batting average and power production, Guerrero should be viewed as the consensus top first baseman in drafts this offseason.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays Avoid Arbitration
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Toronto Blue Jays and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. agreed on a one-year contract worth $28.5 million to avoid arbitration. The 25-year-old enjoyed a fantastic campaign last summer, posting a stellar .323/.396/.544 slash line with 30 home runs and two stolen bases. Under the hood, he generated a .408 xwOBA, .321 xBA, and a .567 xSLG, which placed him in the 98th, 100th, and 98th percentile, respectively, in each statistic. He also posted an excellent 54.9% hard-hit rate and showed an elite eye at the plate with a 13.8% K rate. Guerrero's eventual contract extension remains a top priority for the Blue Jays as he will enter free agency next winter. Heading into 2025, fantasy managers should view Guerrero as the top first baseman on the board, given his elite hitting profile and power upside.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
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