The Toronto Blue Jays were unable to extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr. this offseason. Guerrero is now slated to hit free agency and The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal revealed that he is looking for $500 million in present value. According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman, the Blue Jays offered him close to that, but with heavy deferrals.
Guerrero will be the most sought-after player should he hit the open market. During an interview with Spanish-language journalist Yancen Pujols, Guerrero had a three-word message about the New York Yankees’ chances to land him in free agency.
“Including the Yankees,” Guerrero told Pujols when talking about being available for every team in free agency.
Guerrero went out of his way to mention the Yankees when Pujols talked about him having conversations with every team. Guerrero has seemingly changed his stance on the Yankees organization after he made some strong comments about the organization in 2022.
“I like to play in New York. I like to kill the Yankees. I would never sign with the Yankees, not even (when I’m) dead,” said Guerrero in 2022, according to CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa.
He noted earlier this offseason that he wants to be with the Blue Jays, according to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson, but he also understands the business side of baseball. The Blue Jays are reportedly preparing to make Guerrero a new offer that is closer to what he is looking for.
“SOURCE: The (Blue Jays) are planning to make a new offer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., which will be close to what he is looking for,” MLB insider Héctor Gómez wrote on X. “According to the source, the Jays’ offer would be in the range of 14-15 years and $550-600 million.”
The easiest way for the Blue Jays to keep Guerrero from wearing a Yankees uniform is to extend him. If he hits the open market, the Yankees could be considered among the favorites to land him.
