As Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s contract <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-vladimir-guerrero-jrs-extension-timeline-continues-to-draw-near-without-a-long-term-contract-in-place">extension talks continue</a>, it’s important to remember that he isn’t the only Toronto Blue Jay approaching his first bout with free agency.
Following the 2026 season, one year after Guerrero and Bo Bichette are slated to enter free agency should an extension not happen with either player, catcher Alejandro Kirk is also slated to <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/player/_/id/48786/alejandro-kirk">hit the open market</a>. While not on the same franchise-defining pedestal that Guerrero Jr. finds himself on, Kirk is still a former All-Star at a premium position. 

Good catchers are hard to come by in MLB. Throughout the history of the Jays, Kirk is one of four catchers to earn an All-Star nod (Kirk, Russell Martin, John Buck, Ernie Whitt) and has become one of the go-to options behind the plate, even when Danny Jansen was still in the picture.
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Would it make sense for the Jays to offer Kirk a contract extension before he hits free agency? From the front office’s recent moves involving catchers, that may be their plan.
Just last season, the team<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-trade-catcher-danny-jansen-to-the-boston-red-sox"> traded away Danny Jansen</a> at the deadline with the club sputtering towards the 2024 finish line. He was one of multiple expiring contracts to get moved, but it also meant that Kirk was left to handle the majority of the games left in the season behind the plate. It&#8217;s not a position Kirk hasn&#8217;t been in before &#8211; Jansen&#8217;s injury history has made the Mexican product the lone option on a few occasions before &#8211; but it was one of the first times in recent memory where he was the only go-to option in the fold. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Alejandro Kirk, Zach Pop and Kevin Gausman are on “best shape of their life” watch, John Schneider said. 
Kevin Gausman looks “sturdier”
Bowden Francis went blonde. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a>
&mdash; Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1890028592677236879?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This trade and letting Jansen sign with the Rays this winter implies that the team is okay with Kirk and either Tyler Heineman or a <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/an-in-depth-look-at-the-blue-jays-options-behind-the-plate-in-2025">minor league replacement</a> as their catching duo, a stark contrast from the strong duo of Kirk and Jansen. The club did not go out and find another backstop to platoon with Kirk this winter, just merely some depth options to fit alongside him. 
Heineman played only seven games in the majors throughout 2024 and hit .083 in those games. If the Jays are to roll with this duo in 2025, Kirk will be expected to increase his career single-season high of 99 games caught so that his <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-2024-player-review-alejandro-kirks-bat-came-around-in-the-second-half-of-the-season">superior bat</a> gets more swings.
2025 now becomes somewhat of a test. If Kirk can handle playing 100 or more games, then the possibility for an extension grows between the two sides. 
The other major factor is whether or not the team is competing for a playoff spot, or if they’re out of the race come the end of this season and the next.
With him making $4.6 million this season after avoiding arbitration, that number will continue to grow as he hits arbitration next winter, especially if he continues playing well. Depending on the situation, it may reach a point where the Jays are willing to pay for a catcher if they’re forced into a rebuild.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Alejandro Kirk was a 290 hitter with a 350 on-base after the Danny Jansen trade.
His bat-to-ball skills &amp; swing decisions are elite.
But if he wants a spot in the top 4, his damage rate will have to go up (13 HR in 800+ PA over last 2 seasons)
&mdash; Chris Black (@DownToBlack) <a href="https://twitter.com/DownToBlack/status/1890057466496667818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The process of determining whether or not Kirk should get an extension can be broken down into steps:
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">See how Kirk handles the increase in games caught as the team’s definite number-one catcher. If the answer is “well”, proceed to step two.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Was the team competitive enough to earn a playoff spot in 2025 and 2026? If yes, think about extending Kirk long-term. If not, it may be time to look at prospect catchers for a rebuild.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Does Kirk’s desired contract fit into the team’s budget? If so, get the deal done.</li>
</ol>
It will be a big year for the Blue Jays. While Guerrero will continue to dominate the extension talks with his self imposed deadline coming up in short order, other players are also entering the extension conversation that should be given a closer look this season.
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As Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s contract <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-vladimir-guerrero-jrs-extension-timeline-continues-to-draw-near-without-a-long-term-contract-in-place">extension talks continue</a>, it’s important to remember that he isn’t the only Toronto Blue Jay approaching his first bout with free agency.

Following the 2026 season, one year after Guerrero and Bo Bichette are slated to enter free agency should an extension not happen with either player, catcher Alejandro Kirk is also slated to <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/player/_/id/48786/alejandro-kirk">hit the open market</a>. While not on the same franchise-defining pedestal that Guerrero Jr. finds himself on, Kirk is still a former All-Star at a premium position. 



Good catchers are hard to come by in MLB. Throughout the history of the Jays, Kirk is one of four catchers to earn an All-Star nod (Kirk, Russell Martin, John Buck, Ernie Whitt) and has become one of the go-to options behind the plate, even when Danny Jansen was still in the picture.
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Would it make sense for the Jays to offer Kirk a contract extension before he hits free agency? From the front office’s recent moves involving catchers, that may be their plan.

Just last season, the team<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/toronto-blue-jays-trade-catcher-danny-jansen-to-the-boston-red-sox"> traded away Danny Jansen</a> at the deadline with the club sputtering towards the 2024 finish line. He was one of multiple expiring contracts to get moved, but it also meant that Kirk was left to handle the majority of the games left in the season behind the plate. It's not a position Kirk hasn't been in before - Jansen's injury history has made the Mexican product the lone option on a few occasions before - but it was one of the first times in recent memory where he was the only go-to option in the fold. 

https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1890028592677236879

This trade and letting Jansen sign with the Rays this winter implies that the team is okay with Kirk and either Tyler Heineman or a <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/an-in-depth-look-at-the-blue-jays-options-behind-the-plate-in-2025">minor league replacement</a> as their catching duo, a stark contrast from the strong duo of Kirk and Jansen. The club did not go out and find another backstop to platoon with Kirk this winter, just merely some depth options to fit alongside him. 

Heineman played only seven games in the majors throughout 2024 and hit .083 in those games. If the Jays are to roll with this duo in 2025, Kirk will be expected to increase his career single-season high of 99 games caught so that his <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-2024-player-review-alejandro-kirks-bat-came-around-in-the-second-half-of-the-season">superior bat</a> gets more swings.

2025 now becomes somewhat of a test. If Kirk can handle playing 100 or more games, then the possibility for an extension grows between the two sides. 

The other major factor is whether or not the team is competing for a playoff spot, or if they’re out of the race come the end of this season and the next.

With him making $4.6 million this season after avoiding arbitration, that number will continue to grow as he hits arbitration next winter, especially if he continues playing well. Depending on the situation, it may reach a point where the Jays are willing to pay for a catcher if they’re forced into a rebuild.

https://twitter.com/DownToBlack/status/1890057466496667818

The process of determining whether or not Kirk should get an extension can be broken down into steps:
<ol>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">See how Kirk handles the increase in games caught as the team’s definite number-one catcher. If the answer is “well”, proceed to step two.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Was the team competitive enough to earn a playoff spot in 2025 and 2026? If yes, think about extending Kirk long-term. If not, it may be time to look at prospect catchers for a rebuild.</li>
 	<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Does Kirk’s desired contract fit into the team’s budget? If so, get the deal done.</li>
</ol>
It will be a big year for the Blue Jays. While Guerrero will continue to dominate the extension talks with his self imposed deadline coming up in short order, other players are also entering the extension conversation that should be given a closer look this season.

<hr />

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Blue Jays: Looking at the possibility of a long-term extension for Alejandro Kirk following the 2025 season

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (18) celebrates after scoring the winning run on a double by right fielder Jorge Soler (12, not pictured) as Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23)walks off the field during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium.

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