According to The New York Post’s Jon Heyman, the Toronto Blue Jays put a whopping $500 million on the table for first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ahead of spring training. And here’s the kicker—he turned it down.
The Catch: Deferrals in the Blue Jays Deal
Before you start wondering if Guerrero has lost his mind, there’s a bit more to the story. The reported deal included some hefty deferrals, meaning the actual present-day value was closer to $400 million to $450 million.
And according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Guerrero isn’t just looking for a half-billion-dollar deal—he wants all of it upfront. Either a clean $500 million or an even higher total with deferrals factored in to ensure the actual value stays above that mark.
Toronto did manage to lock Guerrero down for 2025 by giving him a $28.5 million salary to avoid arbitration. That was the third-highest arbitration salary ever. But let’s be real—this is just a short-term solution.
Had he accepted the Jays’ original offer, he’d be sitting on the third-largest contract in MLB history, trailing only Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto.
Guerrero’s Impressive Resume
Let’s talk numbers because Guerrero has put up some serious stats. He’s been an All-Star four years in a row, won a Gold Glove, picked up two Silver Sluggers, and finished second, sixth, and 16th in AL MVP voting.
Last season he had a .323 batting average, 30 home runs, 44 doubles, 103 RBIs, a .940 OPS, and a 6.2 WAR—all while playing 159 games. His career numbers? A .288 average, .863 OPS, and a 4.3 WAR per 162 games, with an average of 32 homers, 35 doubles, and 100 RBIs per season.
And here’s a fun fact—he’s only missed 12 games in five years.
Will the Yankees, Mets, or Red Sox Strike?
Now, the big question: Where does Guerrero go from here? If he hits the open market after 2025, teams will be lining up with their checkbooks open.
The New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox have already been mentioned as the most likely suitors, and let’s be honest—these are teams that don’t blink at handing out massive contracts.
The Blue Jays have a decision to make. Do they up the ante and get rid of those deferrals to keep their franchise cornerstone? Or do they risk losing him to one of their biggest rivals? One thing is for sure—Guerrero is about to cash in big time, one way or another.
