This offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays made wise free agency decisions. Anthony Santander and Max Scherzer should help this core, as will the trade for Andres Gimenez. But the offseason is defined by near misses. One year after losing out on Juan Soto, they tossed their hats in the Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, and Roki Sasaki rings. But they struck out on all of them. Vladimir Guerrero Jr is eligible for an extension but negotiations fell through before the Blue Jays opened spring training. ESPN’s Buster Olney flamed the team for failing to sign their franchise player.
“The Toronto Blue Jays’ handling of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. might best be summarized by Roman philosopher Cicero’s mantra: More is lost by indecision than wrong decision. Step by step, the Jays have put themselves in a dreadful position, with the player holding all of the leverage,” Olney wrote.
Olney then contrasts this circumstance to the Angels’ handling of Ohtani. They did not sign him to an extension and did not trade him, losing a generational star for nothing. Toronto cannot let that happen with Guerrero despite the negotiations falling through.
The Blue Jays also have shortstop Bo Bichette on an expiring contract. Both of the players need to have either a new home or a new contract by the trade deadline.