The Boston Red Sox might have a chance to snag slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. next offseason — a favorable chance, no less.
Guerrero has yet to sign a contract extension with the Toronto Blue Jays, which increases the 25-year-old’s odds of testing free agency as each day passes. Boston reportedly made its run at signing Juan Soto this offseason, which came to no avail. But the failed pursuit could line up perfectly with the team’s rumored interest in Guerrero.
“I do think they’re interested in Vlad Guerrero. That one I’ll say,” MLB insider Jon Heyman said on Bleacher Report’s “B/R Walk-Off” stream Wednesday. “I do think that they love Vlad Guerrero over in Boston and as a free agent, if he doesn’t sign with the Blue Jays, I’m saying Boston might have a good shot there.”
Heyman added: “As far as a trade goes, as I’ve said, I’ll be stunned if Vlad Guerrero is traded.”
Guerrero hit a career-best .323 with 30 home runs, 44 doubles and 103 RBIs across 159 games last season, earning his fourth All-Star nod, his second Silver Slugger Award and a sixth-place finish in the American League MVP ballot. He’s spent the entirety of his six-year career in the AL East, surging into a nightmare in the batter’s box — slashing .356/.432/.622 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs at Fenway Park.
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It’s been reported that Guerrero prefers that a deal comes before the start of spring training, which for Toronto, is less than five weeks away.
The Red Sox could take the patient route and sit back while the Blue Jays desperately work to sway Guerrero to re-sign as opposed to calling Toronto’s front office to discuss a trade. Guerrero’s current link to Boston also derives from his rumored interest, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, in sporting a Red Sox uniform.
“If Guerrero doesn’t receive an extension by spring training, he’ll test free agency,” Nightengale reported earlier this month. “If Guerrero doesn’t return to the Blue Jays, he would love to be with the Red Sox, friends say, which may be why the Red Sox are hesitant in their pursuit of (Alex) Bregman.”
Guerrero, as a Red Sox pursuit target, makes sense for several reasons. He’ll turn 26 years old in March so he’s still ahead of his prime, he’s yet to play for a true contending franchise and he nearly played with Boston star Rafael Devers in the 2023 World Baseball Classic — Guerrero and Devers are both Dominican Republic natives.
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The Blue Jays haven’t won a playoff game in eight years while the Red Sox have three of baseball’s top 10 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, along with a repaired pitching staff eager to turn Boston’s recent misfortunes around.
Featured image via Kevin Sousa/Imagn Images
