TThe Toronto Blue Jays’ star infielder, is set to begin his seventh season in Major League Baseball. A four-time All-Star, Guerrero is regarded as one of the league’s top young hitters. Last season, he finished sixth in the American League MVP voting, posting a 166 OPS+ and driving in 103 RBIs.
At just 25 years old, Guerrero had hoped for a significant contract extension from the Blue Jays during the offseason. However, after his self-imposed deadline in February passed without reaching a deal, the Canadian slugger revealed to reporters that the Blue Jays never came close to meeting his contract expectations (as reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan).
In the weeks following the missed deadline, reports surfaced detailing the breakdown in contract negotiations between Guerrero and the Blue Jays.
According to Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Blue Jays had offered Guerrero an approximate $500 million deal, but with substantial deferrals. However, the actual present value of the offer was estimated to be between $400 million and $450 million, given the deferred payments.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic also reported that Guerrero is seeking $500 million in present value, not including deferrals.
If the Blue Jays are unwilling to make such a sizable offer as Guerrero approaches free agency in 2025, other teams might step in. The New York teams are often linked to these types of high-profile players, but a recent report from Heyman suggested that the Mets, despite their financial strength, may not be the ones to meet Guerrero’s demands. Heyman noted that many around the game believe Mets president David Stearns would be reluctant to commit such a large sum to a power-hitting first baseman, even one as young as Guerrero.
With Pete Alonso potentially opting out after this season, the Mets are facing a pivotal decision regarding their future at first base. After signing Juan Soto to the largest contract in MLB history, Mets owner Steve Cohen could be faced with the prospect of another massive deal next offseason. If Guerrero gets the $500 million he’s reportedly seeking, it would make him the highest-paid first baseman in MLB history—a decision that the Mets’ leadership will have to carefully consider leading up to 2025 free agency.
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