The Blue Jays are not ready to give up on maintaining their own superstar after pursuing several well-known free agent.
New York baseball fans are split into pending free agent Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2026 with pencils in the Yankees and Mets lineup, but Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro has other plans.
“I think we're going to sign him. I think we're going to expand him,” Shapiro told reporters Thursday during spring training. “We have this clear consistency about the desired outcome.
“Vlad wants to play his entire career as the Toronto Blue Jay. He wants to finish his career in a Blue Jay uniform and become a true legacy player for the Toronto Blue Jays. That's a pretty good place.”
But the only thing that really matters is the finish point.
The Blue Jays provided Guererro with a $500 million extension, including a substantial delayed money, Post's Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman previously reported.
Guerrero, 26, the third highest-paid player in MLB, entertained a free-agent debate with the Blue Jays behind Mets Juan Soto and Dodgers' shoe hei ohtani, but eventually moved north of the border.
Guerrero, who is seeking a 14-year deal, said he had previously rebutted for less than $600 million.
So if the stadium has at least 50 million seats, the sides will be in the same financial stadium.
Knowing Shapiro's confidence to keep him, Guerrero reiterated that he was “optimistic.”
It's a small song change from the February 17th deadline, when he negotiated with the only organization he knew.
“I always felt good about the whole thing,” said the four-time All-Star first bass man. “I'm good at it. I just keep working hard and be optimistic. I don't close the door to them.
“I'll leave it to the agents and if there's anything there, they'll continue to work with it. I'm just on the field focusing on my teammates, my team, my game.”
Shapiro sees the reporting on contracts as a “simplification” of complex negotiations.
“I think the only one that actually sells tickets for hundreds of thousands of people is winning,” Shapiro said. “There are players who have a magnetic personality like Vlad – they can amplify the wins and really help, but fans don't see great players by losing their team.”
