Vladimir Guerrer-Go? Jays Playing Hardball with Their Biggest Star

Gearoid Miggan
Gearoid Miggan

Mar 21 | 2025

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (All-Pro Reels Photography)

For a team that talked a big game this offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays are now playing the waiting game—with their most prized asset.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the 26-year-old face of the franchise and one of the most recognizable names in baseball, is currently in contract limbo. Despite the Blue Jays brass previously hinting at blockbuster spending—dropping names like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto as targets—they ultimately whiffed on both. And now, their hesitance to lock in a homegrown superstar is raising eyebrows across the league.

According to multiple reports, the Jays offered Guerrero a sizable contract extension—rumored to be in the ballpark of $500 million—but with significant deferred payments that make the true value murky. Guerrero, on the other hand, is said to be seeking a 14-year deal worth just under $600 million, putting him in the upper echelon of baseball’s elite earners.

It’s a tale as old as time in MLB: a team nurtures a phenom, benefits from years of production at below-market rates, and then balks when it’s time to pay the piper.

A Swing and a Miss

Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro has publicly stated, “I think we’re going to sign him. I think we’re going to extend him.” But that optimism feels more like a pregame pep talk than a done deal. Fans were led to believe this offseason would bring a major splash. Instead, the Jays dipped a toe in the water, flirted with Ohtani, courted Soto from afar—and came up empty.

Now, with no shiny new star and no extension in place for Guerrero, questions are starting to mount: Was the big-spender talk just smoke? Or are the Jays truly tightening the purse strings when it counts the most?

Betting the Farm, but Not on Vlad?

From a FindBet perspective, the implications are worth watching. Futures bettors eyeing Toronto’s World Series odds should be wary. A disgruntled Guerrero or (worse) a future without him drastically shifts the team’s trajectory. Even whispers of a possible departure could shake team morale—and the clubhouse doesn’t need that kind of distraction in a competitive AL East.

And while sportsbooks haven’t yet adjusted odds based on the contract drama, there’s growing chatter around Guerrero’s long-term future. One major site recently favored the San Francisco Giants as a landing spot, should negotiations go sour. That’s a long shot, sure—but long shots are where the money is made.

So… Vladimir Guerrer-Go?

If Toronto is serious about winning now—and keeping its fanbase from full-scale revolt—it needs to make Vlad Jr. a priority. The Jays can’t afford to sell themselves as contenders while nickel-and-diming their cornerstone. He’s not just a first baseman; he’s a fan favorite, a marketing machine, and one of the few players in the league who can put up MVP-caliber numbers and fill seats.

Whether he stays or goes, this story will shape the Jays’ future for years—and for savvy bettors, it might shape how you view their odds this season.

Until the ink is dry, one question will keep echoing around Rogers Centre: Will Vladimir Guerrer-go?

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For a team that talked a big game this offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays are now playing the waiting game—with their most prized asset.





Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the 26-year-old face of the franchise and one of the most recognizable names in baseball, is currently in contract limbo. Despite the Blue Jays brass previously hinting at blockbuster spending—dropping names like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto as targets—they ultimately whiffed on both. And now, their hesitance to lock in a homegrown superstar is raising eyebrows across the league.





According to multiple reports, the Jays offered Guerrero a sizable contract extension—rumored to be in the ballpark of $500 million—but with significant deferred payments that make the true value murky. Guerrero, on the other hand, is said to be seeking a 14-year deal worth just under $600 million, putting him in the upper echelon of baseball’s elite earners.





It’s a tale as old as time in MLB: a team nurtures a phenom, benefits from years of production at below-market rates, and then balks when it’s time to pay the piper.





A Swing and a Miss





Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro has publicly stated, "I think we're going to sign him. I think we're going to extend him." But that optimism feels more like a pregame pep talk than a done deal. Fans were led to believe this offseason would bring a major splash. Instead, the Jays dipped a toe in the water, flirted with Ohtani, courted Soto from afar—and came up empty.






https://www.instagram.com/p/DHbWt9GM4Mp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==






Now, with no shiny new star and no extension in place for Guerrero, questions are starting to mount: Was the big-spender talk just smoke? Or are the Jays truly tightening the purse strings when it counts the most?





Betting the Farm, but Not on Vlad?





From a FindBet perspective, the implications are worth watching. Futures bettors eyeing Toronto’s World Series odds should be wary. A disgruntled Guerrero or (worse) a future without him drastically shifts the team’s trajectory. Even whispers of a possible departure could shake team morale—and the clubhouse doesn’t need that kind of distraction in a competitive AL East.





And while sportsbooks haven’t yet adjusted odds based on the contract drama, there’s growing chatter around Guerrero’s long-term future. One major site recently favored the San Francisco Giants as a landing spot, should negotiations go sour. That’s a long shot, sure—but long shots are where the money is made.





So... Vladimir Guerrer-Go?





If Toronto is serious about winning now—and keeping its fanbase from full-scale revolt—it needs to make Vlad Jr. a priority. The Jays can’t afford to sell themselves as contenders while nickel-and-diming their cornerstone. He’s not just a first baseman; he’s a fan favorite, a marketing machine, and one of the few players in the league who can put up MVP-caliber numbers and fill seats.





Whether he stays or goes, this story will shape the Jays’ future for years—and for savvy bettors, it might shape how you view their odds this season.





Until the ink is dry, one question will keep echoing around Rogers Centre: Will Vladimir Guerrer-go?






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