Report: Blue Jays offered Vladimir Guerrero Jr., three contracts, including one with 'a whole lot of deferred money'

The biggest question this off-season for the Toronto Blue Jays is whether or not they can get Vladimir Guerrero Jr. signed long-term.

On Wednesday, TSN’s Scott Mitchell appeared on First Up and noted that the Blue Jays have offered a few contracts. The quote can be found around the 13:40 mark.

There was apparently one 10-year (offer), one 11-year one, and one that came with a whole lot of deferred money, which the Vladdy camp was not interested in any sort of deferred money.

Mitchell also noted that the Jays haven’t been close to what their superstar first baseman wants and they haven’t reached the $400 million mark as of yet.

So, that isn’t particularly great, with further reports coming out on Wednesday that the New York Mets have checked in on Guerrero Jr. according to Sportsnet New York’s Andy Martino.

Simply put, the Blue Jays need to extend Guerrero Jr. before the imposed deadline of the start of Spring Training rolls around. Allowing the first baseman to test free agency will only end in disaster, as other teams will have an opportunity to sign him. Moreover, waiting until the trade deadline to trade him (if the Blue Jays sell) will be a lesser package than what they could’ve had this off-season.

Guerrero Jr. has said that the Jays aren’t close to what he wants, but if they match his price, he’ll sign on the spot. That came in an interview with Abrideno Sports a few weeks back.

Last season, Guerrero Jr. slashed .323/.396/.544 with 30 home runs in 697 plate appearances, with a 10.3 BB% and a 13.8 K% for a 165 wRC+ and a 5.5 fWAR. His wRC+ was the sixth-highest in the league for qualified hitters and this was his second-best season besides his 2021 season where he had a 166 wRC+.

If the Jays are unable to extend him, it signals the rebuild. Hopefully, they become a bit more flexible about their evaluations of contracts and give their superstar what he wants.