Vladimir Guerrero Jr. revealed on Monday that discussions regarding a contract extension with the Toronto Blue Jays have not progressed as he had hoped. In an interview with Abriendo Sports, Guerrero stated, 'What they offered me is not even close to what I'm looking for.' Guerrero, who has one season left under arbitration, is projected to earn approximately $28.8 million for the upcoming season, according to Spotrac, and is set to become a free agent in 2026.

Guerrero expressed his willingness to finalize a long-term deal if the Blue Jays are able to meet his requirements, indicating he is 'ready to go' on signing. He made it clear that he has a self-imposed deadline for negotiations, which coincides with the first full day of spring training. The Blue Jays are scheduled to commence Grapefruit League play on February 22.

The ongoing negotiation saga follows a contentious arbitration process prior to the 2024 season, where the Blue Jays proposed a salary that was $1.85 million below Guerrero's request. Ultimately, Guerrero won the arbitration case, setting a record with a decision of $19.9 million. Historically, the Blue Jays have managed to resolve contract disputes with players after arbitration conflicts, as they did with Bo Bichette. However, the financial terms covered in that agreement were significantly lower than Guerrero's expectations. Reports suggest the Blue Jays have extended an offer exceeding $340 million, yet this may not suffice following Juan Soto's recent market-resetting 15-year, $765 million agreement with the New York Mets. Industry analysts, including The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, speculate that retaining Guerrero may require a contract in the range of $500 million to $600 million, especially considering his impressive performance as a two-time Silver Slugger, highlighted by a .323 batting average with 30 home runs and 103 runs batted in during his age-25 season. With approximately two months left for negotiations, the Blue Jays may need to consider alternative strategies if they cannot reach an agreement with Guerrero.