logo
Looking at potential teams that will be in the market for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. next winter
alt
Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton - USA Today
Matthew Spagnuolo
Feb 25, 2025, 18:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 25, 2025, 12:22 EST
Comments
February 18th, 2025 will live in infamy in Blue Jays fans’ minds.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. told the media he could not come to terms with an extension for himself and the ballclub he has been with since he signed back as an international free agent in 2015. For many – myself included – this feels like a huge gut punch. Vladdy has given Canadians a chance to feel hopeful about baseball for the first time since the final years of Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion and the postseason runs in 2015 and 2016. 
With Guerrero now saying that 29 other teams are also in the mix next winter when talking about negotiations, a lot of Jays fans seem to have thrown in the towel. And how can you not? 
However, a lot can change in pro sports. For example, we look at the Aaron Judge situation and how Yankee fans thought he was gone until the 11th hour. Or more recently let’s look at the New York Mets, who just had their little debacle with their first baseman, Pete Alonso (who ultimately re-signed with the club after being linked to the Blue Jays).
What also needs to be kept in mind is that Guerrero also said in his interview that he wants to be on a “winning team.” Of course due to the fact he wants to give his father, Vlad Sr., a World Series ring that he did not win. When looking at the 29 other teams that have a crack at signing the 26-year-old, who has a real shot? Well, let’s look at a few.

Boston Red Sox

This is one connection that quite a few fans in the AL East have been banking on since the offseason started and negotiations with Guerrero began.
Boston was what everyone essentially said and clearly, there’s merit there. Of course there is Rafael Devers, who is a close friend of his, as well as the big-time Dominican population in Boston. Then of course we have the stats in Fenway Park which is astronomical. In 45 games at Fenway Park, Guerrero has hit .358 with 10 homers, 44 RBIs and 29 runs scored. Also note he has the highest OPS of a visiting player in 200 plate appearances putting him in the company of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Frank Robinson. Yes, you read that correctly. 
As for 2025, Boston does not currently have room for Guerrero at the moment from a payroll standpoint. With Devers at third, Bregman likely heading to second base (he’s also due $40 million for the next three seasons) and Trevor Story shifting around between second and shortstop, the infield has a bit of a log jam. Now, you do what you have to do for your players that are on the market. From a statistical standpoint, Boston 100% screams slam dunk for Vladdy to go to, even so much so he allegedly liked a picture of him wearing Red Sox colours in the off-season. If there’s a will there’s a way. 

New York Yankees

Listen, before you jump down my throat and say ‘Vlad would never sign with the Yankees, he said it himself,’ sometimes factors change and even he has come out and said that’s all in the past. 
Now I am not saying by any means that Guerrero wants to be with the Yankees right this second, however, it appears that the Yankees absolutely want Vlad. Even though the ‘Evil Empire’ has taken a step back from being the place to be over the years, they are not shy when it comes to leaving no stone unturned and have always found a way to stay competitive in the AL East. 
Much like Boston, Vladdy has dominated against the Bronx Bombers. In 89 games, he has hit .292 with 20 homers and 65 RBI against them. If you can’t beat them, you pay them a huge amount of money to play alongside you, right? 

San Francisco Giants

This would be very apropos, wouldn’t it? Back in the dog days of 2019, a young little kid named Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his first big league home run at Oracle Park. Now what if the Giants are trying to accelerate a rebuild along and think Guerrero can help push the narrative faster?
Since Buster Posey assumed the role as president of baseball operations in San Francisco, the Giants want to compete and build a team to combat a very tough NL West. With Posey being instrumental in extendering former Blue Jay, Matt Chapman, to a six-year, $151 million deal to stay in the Bay Area, why not go out and get a former teammate who Chapman knows well? First base is also a huge hole in the Giants’ lineup as they have not had a bonafide option there since Brandon Belt in 2022. Remember, winning does not have to happen right away should Guerrero commit to a new ball club although he did state he wants to play for a contender.
If Posey can work some magic to bolster the lineup and the front office is willing to spend big like they were for Aaron Judge a couple of summers ago, a match could make sense between both parties.

Toronto Blue Jays

You may be scratching your head now and are saying out loud: “How can that be??! The deadline is over!” Well yes, it all seemed like the sky came falling and that everything is all doom and gloom from here, or is it? Don’t get me wrong, we all are doubtful now that Vladdy stays, but the man himself did say in his media conference that the door is not fully closed. In the man’s own words: “ I won’t close the door, if it’s a realistic offer.” 
Now what is a realistic offer will remain to be seen as we do not know the exact numbers of what was offered by the club. I know a path for reconciliation between both sides is seemingly impossible, but is it? The Yankees went through this with Aaron Judge in 2023 and loaded up the dump truck of money to his front porch to avoid another team poaching him.
For the Blue Jays, they need a face for the franchise and Guerrero checks a lot of boxes. Losing him not only makes the team worse on paper but will create quite a stir for a fanbase that is already at the end of their rope with this front office on numerous accounts.

Honourable Mention: New York Mets

It seems like the Mets are a powerhouse when signing players doesn’t it? Before everyone signed with the Dodgers, the Mets seemed to set that mould first. Steve Cohen has proven he does not care about price tags, he wants to win. There’s a reason why the team exceeded a $300 million payroll in 2023 by signing future Hall of Fame pitchers such as Justin Verlander and current Blue Jay (still feels weird and surreal to say) Max Scherzer. Steve Cohen has proven also during the Juan Soto signing that he absolutely will do anything to make a player not only financially compensated but also feel at home and valued. 
However, recent comments of Cohens stating that the team does not want to have too many lengthy deals on his payroll can put those ideas to bed for the time being. This being Steve Cohen though, you never know what could be going on in his head, especially with a player like Vladdy being potentially available. 

Featured

Editorials

Breaking News