Ross Atkins must be feeling the heat in Toronto. After missing out on big fish like Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, and Max Fried, the Blue Jays’ offseason has been…well, let’s just say underwhelming. So, if there’s one move that could even begin to redeem this, it’s locking down Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the long haul. Extending Vladdy’s contract is exactly what this franchise needs to get back on the right track.

The 2024 Blue Jays were a letdown. Sure, they had the flashy pieces—Bo Bichette, George Springer, Matt Chapman—but they fell flat in ways that no one expected. Among all this, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was a beacon of hope in an otherwise frustrating season. Despite a slow start and not much lineup protection around, Vlad slashed a ridiculous .323/.396/.544 with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs. Oh, and he made the All-Star team.  

A big arbitration payday for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.  

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is entering his final year of arbitration eligibility. After the monster season, there’s no question he’s in line for a massive payday. In fact, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Guerrero could rake in $30 million in arbitration next year. Yes, you read that right. If that happens, Guerrero would join some seriously elite franchise. He’d become only the third player in MLB history to hit that mark, alongside two of the biggest names in the game: Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani.  

However, the Blue Jays have a minor issue with this. Guerrero is undoubtedly a key member of the team, but it will require some aggressive negotiations given his price explosion as a result of Juan Soto‘s megadeal. That $30 million might be just a trailer to a much larger payout later, especially if the club cannot get him to an agreement and allow him to enter free agency following the 2025 season. So, to retain him in Toronto for the long term, the Blue Jays must find a solution. 

What if the Blue Jays lose on Guerrero Jr.? 

No doubt, one of Major League Baseball‘s top-hitting prospects is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The bidding battle would be crazy if Vladdy were to go up for sale. The Canadian-Dominican player can suddenly alter the course of a game while hitting with middling skill and a huge upside power. Would he command a contract like Juan Soto? It isn’t completely impossible. Although Vladdy is unlikely to receive exactly the same amount of money as Soto, he might come close.

Who’s to say the Blue Jays won’t lose Vladdy in the future? So, Toronto is now under a lot of pressure. But according to MLB Analyst Jim Bowden, information has come around from insiders that the Blue Jays have not stated anything regarding Guerrero Jr.’s availability for trade this winter.

The Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins is aware that the stakes are as high as this: both Bo Bichette and Guerrero’s long-term contracts could be crucial to his employment. It is unacceptable to lose one of these young talents – it would be disastrous for Atkins’ term and the future of the franchise.

So, do you think the Jays are going to pin down Vladimir Guerrero Jr.? Keep the comments coming.