Toronto Blue Jays fans are hoping that the team is able to lock down Vladimir Guerrero to a long term deal this winter but according to general manager Ross Atkins, it is not their top priority.
The Blue Jays definitely have a very busy winter ahead but it seems like signing Guerrero to a long term extension is a must as he wants to stay in Toronto and he is an incredible player that could definitely help the team win. there is also the fact that the Blue Jays are looking to go after big time free agents this winter and having Guerrero locked down will help in attracting top market players.
Blue Jays might look at trading Vladimir Guerrero if a deal is not done before the season
MLB reporter Kaitlyn McGrath believes that the Blue Jays top priority this winter should be re-signing Guerrero as does the rest of Toronto. Guerrero is a great player and would help facilitate brining in other big names during free agency.
If the Blue Jays lock up Guerrero, who hit .323 with a .940 OPS and 30 home runs and proved he's one of today's elite bats and can be a pillar of the franchise, then other moves can flow from there. Prospective free agents would likely feel better about signing multiyear deals with Toronto knowing Guerrero is there for the long haul rather than just next season (or less if the season goes sideways and he's traded). -McGrath
If Guerrero goes unsigned throughout the off-season and the Blue Jays end up having another disappointing season as they did in 2024, there is definitely a chance that they move Guerrero since letting him go for nothing would not make much sense.
Piecing that all together, I think the likelihood of the Blue Jays trading Guerrero before the season is slim to none. But, if the season goes sideways, and Guerrero is still a pending free agent, then the Blue Jays would have to be willing to trade him or risk losing him for nothing more than draft-pick compensation. -McGrath
Clearly the right move seems to be re-signing Guerrero to a long term deal but with the way Atkins has spoken in interviews, it seems that he has other priorities this off-season which is ridiculous.