It appears as though Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s days may be numbered with the Toronto Blue Jays after the two sides failed to come to terms on a contract extension last week.
The slugger had a self-imposed deadline of last Tuesday morning to get an extension done before he reported to spring training but a deal never materialized. Guerrero Jr. appeared before reporters last Tuesday and simply replied, “no,” when asked if the two sides were close to striking an agreement.
That means 29 other teams will likely be vying for his services when his contract expires and he tests free agency this winter, and there’s a very real chance that Vladdy could be traded at some point this season. It would be devastating for Toronto should he decide to walk this winter without the team receiving something in return. Vladdy said he’s still open to the possibility of remaining in Toronto, though, for the right price. Of course, there’s still a possibility that the Blue Jays and Guerrero Jr. could agree on an extension at some point over the coming months, despite the franchise player stating he wouldn’t negotiate terms during the season.
Guerrero Jr. will likely hit the open market at the age of just 26, which puts him in rare territory with his prime years still ahead of him. Some MLB prognosticators believe he could command north of $500 million in free agency, which would seemingly narrow the field for his services to just the big-market clubs.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s next team: Boston Red Sox
Guerrero Jr. has played his entire six-year career in Toronto, earning four All-Star nods and two Silver Slugger Awards. He recorded a .940 OPS with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs for the Blue Jays last season.
Let’s take a look at the most likely landing spots for Guerrero Jr., according to the oddsmakers over at Betano.
Guerrero Jr. next team odds
| Team | Odds (Betano) |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +300 |
| New York Mets | +400 |
| Texas Rangers | +500 |
| New York Yankees | +500 |
| Boston Red Sox | +500 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +650 |
| Washington Nationals | +700 |
| San Francisco Giants | +800 |
| Chicago Cubs | +1100 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +1100 |
It’s not surprising that oddsmakers feel like Toronto still has the inside track on retaining Guerrero Jr.’s services. There’s still plenty of time until July’s MLB trade deadline, and the Blue Jays could gamble by holding on to him for the entire season and then making a strong offer in November, although they’ll lose their monopoly on negotiating rights at that point. Toronto’s front office says it remains committed to retaining the team’s franchise player, and there’s still hope a deal can be done.
But what if Vlad is seeking greener pastures with a true World Series contender? The New York Mets and owner Steve Cohen have shown they aren’t afraid to dish out record-breaking contracts after inking Juan Soto to a monstrous 15-year, $765 million deal this past offseason. They could also have a void to fill at first base next season if Pete Alonso rejects his player option and elects free agency, which seems likely if he has a decent season.
After the Mets, three teams—the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox—have the next shortest odds at +500 to land Vlad Jr., who in the past wasn’t too fond of the Yankees but now says he would consider an offer from the Pinstripes. The Rangers, who have an aging core and are clearly in win-now mode, are also a logical landing spot. Boston is a preferred landing spot of Guerrero Jr., who reportedly told close friends he would “love” to play for Boston, according to USA Today. The Red Sox also have a deep prospect pool that could help them potentially acquire Vlad Jr. in a trade in order to get the jump on the competition in extension talks. Boston third baseman Rafael Devers, a fellow Dominican player, is also pals with Vlad Jr which could ease the transition to Toronto’s AL East rival.
A potential longshot in the Guerrero Jr. sweepstakes could be the Los Angeles Angels, priced at +1400, to become the slugger’s next team. His father played for the Angels from 2004 to 2009 and entered the Hall of Fame wearing an Angels cap, so it’s a team both father and son are familiar with and clearly have fond memories of. The modern-day Angels have been stuck in a cycle of mediocrity, and adding a player of Guerrero Jr.’s calibre could be a move that launches the team into the postseason. The team will finally be rid of Anthony Rendon’s horrendous and bloated contract by the end of the 2026 season, which will wipe almost $39 million per season off the books. Those funds could easily be reallocated to help cover the costs of Guerrero Jr., who could be enticed by the thought of living and playing in the California sun.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s next team: Los Angeles Angels
And of course we can’t mention a high-profile free agent without mentioning the Los Angeles Dodgers and their +1400 odds. It seems like the Dodgers are in on every free agent these days, but with a future Hall of Famer in Freddie Freeman already manning first base and a 2025 payroll already upwards of a league-high $320 million, it seems unlikely the team would be interested in the Blue Jays slugger.
Pick: Red Sox (+500) with a smaller wager on the Angels (+1400) as a dark horse.
