The Toronto Blue Jays, a Major League Baseball team with all the potential in the world, are somehow fumbling yet another high-stakes negotiation.
This time, it’s their own homegrown star, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who’s decided to bet on himself rather than take whatever offer Toronto was willing to put on the table. And let’s be honest, can you blame him?
The man knows what he’s worth, and based on what’s happened in free agency lately, there’s every reason to believe he’ll command a far bigger deal when the time comes.
The Blue Jays Front Office Is Running Out of Excuses
Guerrero Jr. has always said he loves Toronto. He’s talked about wanting to stay with the Blue Jays long-term, maybe even for his entire career. But words are cheap. Actions? That’s a whole different game.
The Blue Jays have watched big-name free agents slip through their fingers time and time again—Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, Juan Soto.
And now, if they can’t lock up one of their cornerstone players, it raises serious questions about what’s happening behind the scenes.
If Ross Atkins and company can’t secure a franchise talent like Guerrero, there’s going to be some serious fallout.
A Trade Deadline Wild Card?
Now, let’s talk about what happens if (or, at this rate, when) Guerrero Jr. hits the open market. The Yankees? They’ll be there. The Red Sox? Of course.
The Mets? You better believe Steve Cohen would write a blank check for Vladdy in about five seconds. The Blue Jays have a chance to make sure that doesn’t happen—if they’re smart.
If they realize they’re not in contention by the trade deadline in 2025, they could flip Guerrero Jr. for a serious return instead of letting him walk for nothing.
And this is where things get really interesting. One team that could make a major play for Guerrero Jr. is the Atlanta Braves. Now, why does this make so much sense? Two words: Alex Anthopoulos.
The Braves GM was the one who originally signed Guerrero Jr. out of the Dominican Republic when he was just 16 years old. There’s history there.
And if there’s one thing we know about the Braves, it’s that they know how to build a winning team—and keep their stars locked in on team-friendly deals.
The Braves Could Be the Perfect Fit
Multiple outlets, including CBS Sports and Jays Journal, have already started linking Vladdy to Atlanta. This is not a surprise.
It makes sense on so many levels. Even if Guerrero Jr. only ended up there for a short stint, he could be the kind of player who puts them over the top in October. And let’s face it, that’s all that really matters.
So, where does that leave Toronto? Well, they better figure something out—fast. Because if Guerrero Jr. walks, it won’t just be another missed opportunity. It’ll be a franchise-altering disaster.
