The Toronto Blue Jays have faced consistent challenges in securing top free agents over recent years. Despite being in contention for superstars like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, as well as offseason targets such as Juan Soto, Max Fried, and Corbin Burnes, the team has repeatedly come up short. These struggles have fueled speculation about the potential trade of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., their superstar first baseman, who is entering the final year of his contract without an extension in place. If Guerrero reaches free agency, Toronto’s inability to outbid other teams for marquee players raises doubts about their chances of retaining him.
However, on Monday morning, the Blue Jays signaled they are still committed to contending by signing free-agent outfielder Anthony Santander, as first reported by MLB Network. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Santander’s deal is worth over $90 million. This move underscores the organization’s intent to remain in win-now mode, rather than pivoting to a rebuild.
In this context, retaining Guerrero becomes even more critical. While there’s a possibility the team could consider trading him at the 2025 trade deadline if their season takes a downturn, for now, Guerrero remains a cornerstone of the Blue Jays’ roster.
