Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Toronto Blue Jays’ 25-year-old four-time All-Star, is approaching the last of his required seasons under control of the team that originally signed him. After the 2025 season, Guerrero — who has hit 136 home runs in his last four seasons — will likely hit the open market as a free agent, where it is believed he could command a deal in the neighborhood of $427 million.Toronto is attempting to work out a contract extension with Guerrero, but the team and player remain far apart on numbers, and according to a report by The Athletic, the young slugger has set a deadline of Feb. 17, the first day of spring training, for agreeing on that extension. If not, he proceeds into free agency, and likely out of Toronto, once the season ends.
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of Toronto Blue Jays walks from the dugout before playing the Boston Red Sox in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on September 17, 2023…
TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of Toronto Blue Jays walks from the dugout before playing the Boston Red Sox in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on September 17, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
More
Mark Blinch/Getty Images
Where would he go? Guerrero, according to statements by friends given to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, “would love” to join the Boston Red Sox. According to longtime MLB insider journalist Jon Heyman, the Red Sox return that “love,” and would be open to signing Guerrero as a free agent.But Boston has never paid the asking price Guerrero is believed to be seeking to any player. In recent years, especially, owner John Henry has been particularly averse to handing out big-money, long-term deals. His reluctance, according to a report Thursday by the Red Sox news site BoSox Injection, could open the door for another team to beat the Red Sox to the punch and sign Guerrero while Boston dithers over the size of his contract.”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,” BoSox Injection columnist Katie Manganelli wrote.The Mets have already “checked in” on Guerrero to explore the possibility of trading for him, according to media reports, indicating that though the likelihood is low that Guerrero leaves Toronto before the 2025 season starts, New York is targeting him and the free-spending Mets could swipe Guerrero out from under the Red Sox next year.More MLB: Mets Predicted to Sign $65 Million All-Star as Pete Alonso’s Future Remains Clouded
