MLB Insider Says "Best Guess" is That Toronto Blue Jays Lose Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

The Jays have all kinds of question marks for the future...
Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) walks back to the dugout before the start of a game against the Miami Marlins at Rogers Centre on Sept 29.
Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) walks back to the dugout before the start of a game against the Miami Marlins at Rogers Centre on Sept 29. / Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
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According to Ken Rosenthal of 'The Athletic,' the Toronto Blue Jays are a "baffling" team. Rosenthal wrote in a lengthy piece on Thursday that he was somewhat confused by the Jays selling at the trade deadline in 2024, only to keep valuable pieces like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette that could have elicited big returns.

He also wasn't sure why a team that might need a full rebuild didn't elect to trade for younger prospects, instead getting a group of young, major league players, when they already have a bunch of those also.

Finally, Rosenthal is a little confounded as to why the Jays are so in on Juan Soto despite having major questions for the future, namely what will happen to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, who are free agents after the 2025 season.

Rosenthal also offered this sobering reality about the state of the organization:

Can some combination of those players provide say, 60 percent of Guerrero’s and Bichette’s combined value, with the Jays acquiring established stars to play other positions? Perhaps. But the strategy still seems odd, not to mention risky. Guerrero is an anchor to build around. And the best guess is that he will be gone.

"The best guess is that he will be gone" is certainly tough to hear. Guerrero Jr. is a homegrown star and the face of the franchise. Even in a world where the team acquires Soto, they'd undoubtedly prefer to have Guerrero Jr. also in the middle of the order.

Guerrero Jr. hit 30 homers and drove in 103 this past season, even though the Blue Jays finished last in the American League East.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady.