Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays: Latest potential extension talks, Alonso factor and more

With his free agency coming up in less than nine months, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero is sparking debate on a number of fronts:

• The Blue Jays have not spoken with Guerrero’s camp about an extension since before Christmas, according to a source familiar with the talks. However, those talks are expected to accelerate before Guerrero’s self-imposed deadline of February 17, the day before the pitchers and position players hold their first full workout.

Guerrero, 25, is scheduled to hit the open market entering his age-27 season, and is one year older than outfielder Juan Soto was when he agreed in December to a 15-year, $765 million free agent contract with New York Mets. . First basemen generally don’t get paid as much as outfielders, but Guerrero’s relative youth sets him up for a blockbuster deal, either from the Jays or another club.

• like The athlete It was reported on Thursday that the Jays are in discussions with free agent first baseman Pete Alonso. Adding Alonso would not indicate a desire to trade Guerrero, according to a source familiar with the discussions. The Jays are trying to win, and their most likely plan would be to install Alonso at first and move Guerrero to third, where he appeared in 12 games last season. Both can also serve as designated hitters.

Some players may resist changing positions during their walk year, but Guerrero actually prefers to move across the diamond. He told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi in September that he would “love” to play third base in 2025, He described it as “situational.” The move, if it goes well, could boost his value in free agency.

• Signing Alonso could also protect the Jays from the potential loss of Guerrero, provided the deal doesn’t include an opt-out after one year. Alonso’s camp has exclusively proposed to the Mets a three-year deal with a high average annual value and an opt-out. The Mets countered with a three-year back-to-back offer that Alonso rejected, league sources said.

With the Jays, a team that has been desperate to make a big move over the past two seasons, Alonso may be able to negotiate a deal closer to the extension he rejected from the Mets in June 2023, according to the New York Post. The Mets’ seven-year, $158 million offer would have included his final year of arbitration, which turned out to be worth $20.5 million. So, in the new money, Alonso effectively turned down six years and $137.5 million.

• Finally, although a trade for Guerrero, with or without Alonso, is not out of the question, Toronto’s response to teams only verifying Guerrero’s availability in a trade reflects their strong desire to keep him.

To even consider trading Guerrero, the package would have to include top players and top prospects and exceed the value the San Diego Padres received from the New York Yankees in exchange for Soto, league sources said.

For Soto and outfielder Trent Grisham, the Padres acquired right-handers Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Johnny Brito and Randy Vasquez, along with catcher Kyle Higashioka. They later made Thorpe the centerpiece of a trade for Dylan Cease.

(Top photo by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Mark Blinch/Getty Images)