Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Opens Up on Failed Blue Jays Extension

Just weeks removed from Opening Day, the Toronto Blue Jays are facing more questions about the future of star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

The four-time All-Star had set a deadline with the franchise regarding a potential contract extension. If a deal was not agreed upon before the start of Spring Training, Guerrero wouldn’t continue to discuss a potential deal for the duration of the season. The Blue Jays failed to work out an extension with their 25-year-old star — and now Guerrero is sharing details of the talks.

In an interview with ESPN’s Enrique Rojas and Ernesto Jerez, Guerrero said that he and his representatives presented Toronto a potential extension that would have paid him less than $600 million. While some reports had insinuated Guerrero was searching for a deal similar to the one Juan Soto signed with the New York Mets this past offseason (15 years/$765 million), the slugger pushed back on those claims.

Guerrero had this to say about the negotiations:

It’s much less than Soto. We’re talking about many fewer millions than Soto, more than a hundred million less. … It was the same number of years (as Soto’s contract), but it didn’t reach ($600 million). The last number we gave them as a counteroffer didn’t reach 600 [million dollars]. I know the business. I lowered the salary demands a bit, but I also lowered the number of years. … I’m looking for 14 [years]. I would like 14, 15, even 20 if they give them to me, but doing it the right way.

Guerrero is coming off the second-best season of his career. In a year in which he made his fourth All-Star Game in a row, Guerrero slashed .323/.396/.544 with 30 home runs, 44 doubles and 103 RBI. Guerrero finished second for the American League MVP in 2021, and last year finished sixth.

The Blue Jays will now be faced with a big decision: Do they trade Guerrero before potentially losing him in free agency? As for the star, he made it clear that he is focused on continuing to produce at a high level.

“There was an exchange [of salary figures]. The meetings lasted until the last day of the deadline, but they [the Blue Jays and Guerrero’s agents] couldn’t reach an agreement on the numbers. But as I’ve always said, just because we couldn’t reach an agreement, I’m not going to change the way I work. I have to keep working,” Guerrero said.

Toronto opens the season on March 27 when it hosts the Baltimore Orioles.