Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will break the bank, and if teams are keeping an eye on him, they must take note. After a lengthy negotiation run that lasted in unsuccessful tryouts, Vladdy is not letting his options slip off. As an MLB insider recently hinted, his next ask is not going anywhere down to $500 million as he hits free agency next season.

In a striking forecast for the Toronto Blue Jays, MLB insider Jon Heyman has declared that first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will likely demand over $500 million in free agency. While Guerrero’s valuation may not reach the staggering heights of Juan Soto’s record contract, it still poses a daunting challenge for the Blue Jays. And there’s still doubt as a limited pool of teams able and willing to meet such a financial commitment.

“He’s not Soto, he’s not getting 765 million but he’s going to expect over $500 million. So you know how many teams can afford that. It is a limited number of teams that can afford it and are willing to go there. It’s less than a third of the teams certainly and maybe it’s a handful there were what five or six teams in on Soto and even more money. But at least we can eliminate some teams because there are certain teams that are not going to spend $500 million for a player no matter how good a player is,” Heyman told Robert Murray of the Baseball Insiders Podcast. [08:51 Mark]

However, his analogy is not wrong. As Guerrero prepares to enter the market, Toronto will be under pressure to contend with his salary expectations and compete against other franchises with deeper pockets.

Blue Jays Still In The Mix For Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

While the discussion will go on and on if the maybes are counted, nothing is promised. But Guerrero’s impressive performance has only heightened his market value. After a stellar 2024 season, where he boasted a .323 batting average alongside 30 home runs and 103 RBIs.

And from his point of view, it’s clear why he feels justified in seeking a monumental deal. The 25-year-old star has spent his entire career in Toronto. Despite indicating an interest in returning, there have been no signs of progress on a contract extension. This lack of proper communication and the inability to reach an agreement only adds to the Blue Jays’ mounting headache.

They already lost the negotiations with Guerrero, and potentially, their other key players, like Bo Bichette, will also be entering free agency. The stakes are especially high for Toronto after a disappointing 2024 campaign, where the team couldn’t replicate their previous success.

With the core that once promised much now facing uncertainty, retaining superstar talent like Guerrero seems increasingly unlikely. As the March 16 deadline approaches for Guerrero’s 26th birthday, and with free agency looming ever closer, they’ll have to pull the trigger.

Let’s see if this will be the final season for Vladdy in a Blue Jays uniform or if management will muster the resources to keep him in Toronto for years to come.