Vladdy isn't going anywhere!
The biggest question about the 2026 free agent class just got its answer – and it’s one that will echo through Major League Baseball for years to come. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. isn’t going anywhere.
In another move that sets a higher ceiling for players, the Toronto Blue Jays have locked up their franchise cornerstone to a record-shattering 14-year, $500 million contract extension. The deal, finalized early Monday, ensures that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. once thought to be the crown jewel of next winter’s free agent crop, will stay in Toronto for the long haul.
It’s the largest contract extension in MLB history, eclipsing the $426.5 million deal signed by Mike Trout in 2019. Only Juan Soto’s $765 million deal with the Mets and Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million agreement with the Dodgers surpass it in total value, but unlike those megadeals, Guerrero’s includes no deferrals and a full no-trade clause.
Guerrero, 26, is now in his seventh MLB season. He’s coming off a great 2024 campaign, where he slashed .323/.396/.544 with 30 home runs, 103 RBIs, and a .940 OPS. He made his fourth consecutive All-Star team, added another Silver Slugger to his collection.
For Toronto, the deal represents a massive victory after years of falling short in their pursuit of elite talent. The club famously lost out on Soto and Ohtani in consecutive offseasons, despite aggressive pushes. But this time, they got it done, and with their own homegrown star.
The timing of the deal also comes with some poetic undertones. Just two days ago, Guerrero received a raucous ovation from Mets fans during their home opener, fueling hope and some fire to the rumors that the New York Mets would pursue him in free agency, finding a young replacement to Pete Alonso next year. Instead, the Blue Jays made sure that speculation ends now.
Though he had previously set a negotiation deadline before spring training, Guerrero reversed course, and both sides moved quickly to finalize the historic extension before Opening Week was through.
Born in Montreal and a Canadian citizen, Guerrero has long been seen as the perfect face for baseball in Canada. His father, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr., launched his career with the Montreal Expos, and now his son’s legacy is firmly rooted in the country too.
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who plays primarily first base and can play the other corner if needed, debuted in 2019 at just 20 years old and has lived up to every ounce of hype since. With this extension, he now has the opportunity to spend the majority, if not the entirety, of his career in Blue Jays blue.
Toronto now have their superstar for the next 14 seasons.
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