By multiple accounts, extension conversations between the Toronto Blue Jays and star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. haven't gone well.
Guerrero has already declined at least one contract offer from Toronto, and the 25-year-old set a hard deadline of the start of spring training for the two sides to agree. Pitchers and catchers report in less than a month, so the Jays don't have long to re-sign the face of their franchise.
Some reporters may already see the writing on the wall, though. Toronto has been largely unable to secure major free agents, despite its owner's abundant riches, which doesn't bode well for the team's chances of winning in an expensive, competitive market dominated by high-payroll teams. Guerrero may be itching to hit free agency, and MLB insider Bob Nightengale recently reported that the Boston Red Sox are on his radar.
Nightengale mentioned sources close to Guerrero have said he'd like to play in Boston, but the first baseman demands a hefty salary that there's no evidence it'll be willing to meet. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, the New York Mets also appear interested in Guerrero, and as we saw in the race to sign Juan Soto, no one out-bids team owner Steve Cohen.
Mets interested in trading for potential Red Sox target Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The latest on Pete Alonso, from @martinonyc:
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) January 15, 2025
"The Mets are holding the line with Pete Alonso, and Steve Cohen fully supports David Stearns’ approach.
Among many alternatives, they have checked in on Vladimir Guerrero Jr."
Read Andy's full column here: https://t.co/kA3VshxgqN pic.twitter.com/j3jxKP0gPA
Andy Martino of SNY reported that the Mets have "checked in" on Guerrero with the Blue Jays. While there's no confirmation that Toronto plans to trade him, the Mets could be the Sox's absolute biggest threat if Guerrero reaches free agency.
New York may be especially desperate to add a franchise first baseman if Pete Alonso departs in free agency, and the latest reporting suggests that the team expects him to sign elsewhere after it reunited with Jesse Winker.
MLB insider Jon Heyman mentioned on the Jan. 15 installment of his Bleacher Report livestream that the Red Sox "love" Guerrero and would hope to bring him to Boston if he doesn't sign with the Jays. If the Mets get to him beforehand, it'll be hard for the young slugger to pass up a lucrative contract — likely much more so than whatever Red Sox would offer — and the chance to play alongside Soto for many years.