The Toronto Blue Jays find themselves stuck in baseball purgatory.
Fresh off whiffing on generational talents Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto in consecutive offseasons, Toronto’s trajectory has taken a concerning turn. The club stumbled to a disappointing 74-88 record in 2024, finishing last in the brutal AL East after back-to-back playoff appearances.
Now, with franchise cornerstones Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette entering their contract years, the Blue Jays face a pivotal crossroads in 2025.
While extension talks with Guerrero are reportedly ongoing, the slugger hasn’t seen an offer he deems worthy — especially in light of Soto’s record-breaking $765 million payday with the New York Mets. Meanwhile, trade rumors suggest Bichette could be available for the right package.
“If the Blue Jays were to trade Guerrero, I don’t think they’d get a strong return in line with what the Padres received for Soto from the Yankees a year ago, but they could still land a top-three prospect and a top-10 prospect for the slugger, I would guess, while a Bichette trade could bring back two top-10 prospects,” notes Bowden.
The clock is ticking in Toronto. With two franchise pillars approaching free agency, the Blue Jays’ front office faces pressure to chart a clear path forward — and fast.
