The Toronto Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have not come to terms on a long-term extension, but his contract status for the upcoming season is no longer in question.
Guerrero and the Blue Jays avoided going to arbitration on Friday by settling at a $28.5 million salary for 2025. The two parties were able to do something they couldn’t last February, when Guerrero went to a hearing with Toronto and won. He ended up getting $19.9 million for the 2024 season after the Blue Jays offered $18.05 million, which represented an increase of $5.4 million compared to the prior season.
Heading into his last year before free agency, Guerrero’s 2025 pact with Toronto falls shy of MLB’s largest-ever arbitration salary. Juan Soto set that record when he and the Yankees reached an agreement for $31.5 million for the 2024 season.
The Blue Jays’ slugging first baseman earned a significant raise in his final year of arbitration after enjoying his best season since 2021, when he hit 48 home runs and finished second in the American League MVP voting. He made his fourth consecutive All-Star team in 2024 and finished with 30 homers while batting .323/.396/.544 and 44 doubles, a career-high. He finished the season with 199 hits.
Guerrero, 25, has been in extension talks with the Blue Jays, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Agreeing to the one-year deal doesn’t preclude the two sides from coming to a long-term contract agreement later on.
The Blue Jays reached agreements with each of their remaining seven arbitration-eligible players, including Guerrero.
• OF Daulton Varsho: $8,200,000
• C Alejandro Kirk: $4,600,000
• RHP Alek Manoah: $2,200,000
• IF Ernie Clement: $1,975,000
• RHP Nick Sandlin: $1,630,000
• RHP Zach Pop: $900,000
Reliever Erik Swanson and the Blue Jays avoided arbitration in November when they agreed to a $3 million contract for 2025.
(Photo: Cole Burston / Getty Images)
