Toronto Blue Jays infielder did not reach a contract extension before his self-imposed deadline and is set to enter free agency after the 2025 season. Despite a strong 2024 campaign, he stated that the Blue Jays’ offer fell well short of his expectations, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
He finished sixth in AL MVP voting, driving in 103 runs with a 166 OPS+—the fifth-best mark in baseball. At just 25 years old, he will hit free agency at the same age as Juan Soto, who secured a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets this offseason.
While top star isn’t on the same level as Soto, one MLB insider believes he could still land a contract exceeding $600 million. On a Bleacher Report stream, Jon Heyman of the New York Post stated that any team looking to sign Guerrero will likely need to offer a deal in the “$600 million-plus” range.
With that in mind, who are the top contenders to sign him? According to Heyman, the leading favorites are the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox.
“My guesses would be the Red Sox,” Jon Heyman said, noting that Boston’s willingness to trade Triston Casas suggests they wouldn’t hesitate to pursue Vladimir Guerrero Jr. “He was out there on the trade market, so that’s no impediment to signing Vlad Guerrero Jr.”
Heyman also mentioned the Mets as a possibility, though they have indicated plans to be more cautious with spending. Meanwhile, Toronto has already shown reluctance to meet Guerrero’s $600 million price tag. This leaves Boston with a legitimate opportunity—but also a major decision—to make.