Blue Jays CEO Mark Shapiro still believes team will extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Blue Jays CEO Mark Shapiro still believes team will extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

More than a month removed from the Toronto Blue Jays not meeting Vladimir Guerrero Jr.‘s self-sanctioned deadline for an extension, Blue Jays executive Mark Shapiro is still confident that the lauded slugger will end his career with the organization.

“When it comes to [Vladimir Guerrero Jr.]’s contractual situation, I guess my overarching feeling is one of optimism,” he said, according to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, this week. “I think we’re going to sign him. I think we’re going to extend him. The reason I feel that way is because we have such a clear alignment on the desired outcome. Vlad wants to play his whole career as a Toronto Blue Jay. We want him to end his career in a Blue Jays uniform to be a true legacy player for the Toronto Blue Jays.

“The challenge has been, that area that we’ve talked about before, finding the sweet spot of sharing risk. … Could be before free agency, could be during free agency, but I’m optimistic we will sign him. That’s how I feel.”

What we do know is that Guerrero, who will be entering his age-26 season in 2025, wants as many years as Juan Soto got (15) for at least $150 million less than Soto ($765M). It was reported earlier this month that the last number he gave to Toronto didn’t exceed $600 million. Though he did reportedly reject a deal surpassing a deal worth north of $500 million with deferrals.

Guerrero hasn’t been as consistent as Soto or some of MLB’s top sluggers, but he will be one of the most sought-after free agents next offseason.

He slashed .323/.396/.544 with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs last year, marking the second-highest OPS (.940) and OPS+ (166) of his career after leading the American League in both marks (1.002 OPS; 167 OPS+) in 2021.

Depending on the year he has this season could determine a ton when it comes to his free agency. Obviously, he’s gambling on himself–but he’s clearly good enough to get away with it. Either way, the four-time All-Star will be a very rich man–but how rich?

In Shapiro’s words, teams leaguewide will need to find the “sweet spot,” for a player who projects to be a DH for most of the rest of his career, which isn’t exactly easy to pinpoint in today’s economy (given Soto’s contract).

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