Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be the top free agent in 2025 after he and the Toronto Blue Jays didn’t reach an extension before his self-imposed deadline.
Guerrero set a deadline of the first day of spring training as the last day he will negotiate a contract extension. And Zach Pressnell of FanSided proposed a trade that would see Toronto dealing Guerrero to the Detroit Tigers in a five-player blockbuster now that the two sides have failed to reach an agreement.
Tigers acquire:
Blue Jays acquire:
- Colt Keith
- Kevin McGonigle
- Hao-Yu Lee
- Troy Melton
The proposed deal would be a blockbuster, but Toronto would likely need something like this to trade Guerrero.
“A deal for Guerrero would need to be loaded with a ridiculous amount of talent. This is exactly the kind of deal that could cause the Blue Jays to explore the idea of dealing their generational star,” Pressnell wrote.
Keith is 23 and slashed .260/.309/.380 in his first MLB season. He would replace Guerrero at first base for the Blue Jays.
McGonigle, meanwhile, is a Top 100 prospect. The 20-year-old shortstop was drafted 37th overall in 2023 and has hit .309 with 5 home runs and 44 RBIs in 272 minor-league at-bats.
Lee is the Tigers’ No. 8 prospect and is a second and third baseman. The final piece of the deal would be Melton who is a 24-year-old pitching prospect. Melton would give the Jays more pitching depth and could push to make the majors this season.
“Even with such a loaded return, the Blue Jays may not be willing to move Guerrero, but there’s still a chance the Tigers can get a deal done. If Toronto accepts its fate as losing Guerrero at the end of the 2025 season, it wouldn’t be the most shocking move to see them accept a trade similar to the one pitched above,” Pressnell added.
Detroit, meanwhile, would take a gamble on Guerrero for a year and hopefully entice him to sign a long-term deal. Guerrero, however, has said he won’t negotiate during the season and will be hitting free agency.
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