Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Reveals Thoughts on Trade Deadline & Blue Jays Future

The Toronto Blue Jays continue to stumble, and rumors continue to fly about what will happen with the faces of the franchise Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette at this month's trade deadline.

As for Vladdy, he made his feelings clear on Thursday on where he stands as far as where he wants to be, but then left some uncertainty when it comes to any future contract talks:

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on extension, trade deadline, future with #BlueJays:
“Man, I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here all my life. But this is business."

Adds he doesn't think about $$$:
“My time is going to come. I don’t know if it’s soon or not but it’s going to come.”
— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) July 4, 2024

“Man, I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here all my life," insisted Guerrero, spelling out his love for the city of Toronto. Then he added, "But this is business."

Hmmm. According to former MLB GM David Samson, signing Guerrero at his potential asking price would be bad business for the Jays:

"(Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) is going to want a deal to be paid as though he's among the top-three first basemen in the game."@DavidPSamson on why the #BlueJays shouldn't seek to sign Vlad to a long-term deal with @SNJeffBlair & Kevin Barker. #TOTHECORE

📺 https://t.co/SqK7M993Jz pic.twitter.com/pEkwv9j5fU
— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) July 4, 2024

"If you sign Vladimir to a long-term contract," Samson told Jeff Blair on Sportsnet Radio, "he has zero chance of out-performing that contract. He is going to want a deal from Toronto to be paid as though he is among the top three first basemen in the game, and in the top three offensive players in the game, and he's going to want 10 years.

"It's just not a smart investment (for the Blue Jays)."

And while Guerrero has had a very nice run over the past month, batting .314 with eight homers and 25 RBIs, his production in major league ballparks over his career (which excludes most of his MVP runner-up season in 2021 that was mostly played in a Single-A Dunedin ballpark and Triple-A Buffalo), is not representative of one of those 10-year, $300 million contracts that are all the rage in baseball these days.

Vladdy is a three-time All-Star, with a career average of .281 with an .844 OPS. His home run totals have decreased each of the last three seasons, however, including the 25-HR pace he's on this year. He's just not that guy that everyone thought he was. At least not yet. He's still just 25.