Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Details His Side's Proposals in Contract Talks With Blue Jays

The four-time All-Star faces a career pivot point.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. watches the Blue Jays' 7–4 exhibition win over the Red Sox on March 6, 2025.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. watches the Blue Jays' 7–4 exhibition win over the Red Sox on March 6, 2025. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

After the 2025 season, Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can become a free agent.

It is a harsh reality around which the Blue Jays appear to have oriented all their decisions in recent years, as Toronto reckons with whether to keep or jettison a player with the makings of an all-time great. In a Thursday interview with Ernesto Jerez and Enrique Rojas of ESPN, Guerrero gave his perspective on the two sides' contract negotiations this offseason.

"We're talking about many fewer millions than (New York Mets right fielder) Juan Soto, more than a hundred million less," Guerrero said. "It was the same number of years, but it didn't reach $600 (million). The last number we gave them as a counteroffer didn't reach $600 [million]."

On Dec. 11, Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets—the most lucrative contract in the history of North American sports.

"I know the business. I lowered the salary demands a bit, but I also lowered the number of years ... I'm looking for 14," Guerrero said.

Guerrero has made four All-Star teams in his six-year career, slashing .288/.363/.500 with 160 home runs and 507 RBIs.


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Patrick Andres
PATRICK ANDRES

Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .