The Toronto Blue Jays signed four-time All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a 14-year, $500 million contract extension on April 7, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported.
Guerrero’s contract begins in 2026 and includes no deferrals. The deal carries an average annual value of $35.7 million.
News: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a 14-year, $500 million contract extension that starts in 2026 and includes no deferrals. More details on a deal expected to make Vlad a Blue Jay for life, free and unlocked at ESPN: https://t.co/QMbaQeqtlT
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 7, 2025
It is the third-largest contract in Major League Baseball history, behind only Juan Soto’s 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets and Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Guerrero’s 2025 contract carries a luxury tax rate of 14.64 percent.
Before the extension, Toronto’s tax allocations sat at $267.8 million, fifth in MLB. Their active payroll was $213.6 million, fourth overall, leaving the club with a tax space deficit of $26.8 million and an estimated tax bill of $10 million to start the 2025 season.
El contrato de Vladimir Guerrero Jr. es el tercero más grande en la historia de las Grandes Ligas, solo por detrás de Shohei Ohtani y Juan Soto. #LightsUpLetsGo | #ElExtrabase⚾️ pic.twitter.com/EJB6QuddMH
— El Extrabase ⚾️ (@ElExtrabase) April 7, 2025
The players just behind Guerrero in total contract value include Mike Trout ($426.5 million, Angels), Mookie Betts ($366 million, Dodgers), Aaron Judge ($360 million, Yankees), Manny Machado ($350 million, Padres), Francisco Lindor ($341 million, Mets), Fernando Tatis Jr. ($340 million, Padres), Bryce Harper ($330 million, Phillies), Corey Seager ($325 million, Rangers), Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($325 million, Dodgers), Giancarlo Stanton ($325 million, Marlins), Gerrit Cole ($324 million, Yankees), and Rafael Devers ($313.5 million, Red Sox).
Chicago-based reporter Mike Rodriguez, originally from the Dominican Republic, reported on April 4 that Guerrero was nearing a deal worth more than $500 million.
Breaking News: According to my sources, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Toronto Blue Jays are very close to closing an extension agreement of more than $500 million dollars. #BlueJays #Toronto #VladimirGuerreroJr pic.twitter.com/ELTHYXK5rh
— Mike Rodriguez (@mikedeportes) April 4, 2025
The deal far exceeds the career earnings of Guerrero’s father, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr., who earned $129 million over 16 MLB seasons.
Now 26, the right-handed slugger from Montreal, Canada, has appeared in 10 games to start the 2025 season. He’s batting .256/.333/.333 with 10 hits, three doubles, four RBI, five walks, nine strikeouts, and a 0.3 WAR across 45 plate appearances.
In 2024, Guerrero posted a 6.2 WAR with a .323 average in his All-Star campaign. He played in 159 games with 697 plate appearances, collecting 199 hits, 44 doubles, one triple, 30 home runs, 103 RBI, 72 walks, 96 strikeouts, and a .940 OPS.
Over seven seasons with the Blue Jays, Guerrero has compiled a .287 career average with 915 hits, 180 doubles, six triples, 160 home runs, 511 RBI, 20 stolen bases, 354 walks, 560 strikeouts, and a .861 OPS in 829 games.
Will Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic?
Guerrero is a potential candidate to represent the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park in Miami. The team will compete in Pool D under manager Albert Pujols and general manager Nelson Cruz.
He did not play in the 2023 WBC but could be a major addition to the Dominican Republic’s lineup in 2026.
Federación Dominicana de Béisbol president Juan Núñez is expected to evaluate offensive talent for the national team throughout the 2025 season. Guerrero joins a deep pool of candidates that includes Ketel Marte, Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Mark Vientos, Jasson Dominguez, Rafael Devers, Jeremy Peña, Teoscar Hernández, Manny Machado, Willy Adames, Julio Rodríguez, Yanier Díaz, Austin Wells, Gary Sánchez, and José Ramírez.
2026 World Baseball Classic Overview
The 2026 WBC will begin with pool play across four locations. Colombia, Chinese Taipei, Brazil, and Nicaragua have already qualified but have not yet been assigned to a pool.
Pool Assignments
• Pool A (San Juan, Puerto Rico – Hiram Bithorn Stadium): Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and a qualifier nation
• Pool B (Houston, Texas – Daikin Park): United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain, and a qualifier nation
• Pool C (Tokyo, Japan – Tokyo Dome): Japan, Australia, South Korea, Czech Republic, and a qualifier nation
• Pool D (Miami, Florida – loanDepot Park): Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Israel, and a qualifier nation
Quarterfinals
At Daikin Park:
• March 13 – Pool A runner-up vs. Pool B winner
• March 14 – Pool B runner-up vs. Pool A winner
At loanDepot Park:
• March 13 – Pool C runner-up vs. Pool D winner
• March 14 – Pool D runner-up vs. Pool C winner
Semifinals and Final
• Semifinals: March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park
• Championship: March 17 at loanDepot Park
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
