The Toronto Blue Jays are grappling with a tough reality as their once-bright future hangs in the balance.
After failing to secure generational stars Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto in back-to-back offseasons, the team stumbled to a dismal 74-88 record in 2024, finishing last in the highly competitive AL East. This disappointing season followed consecutive playoff appearances, marking a concerning downturn in Toronto’s trajectory.
Now, heading into 2025, the Blue Jays face a critical juncture. Franchise cornerstones Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette are entering the final years of their contracts, forcing the team to make pivotal decisions about their future.
MLB Insider Criticizes Blue Jays’ Strategy on Guerrero and Bichette
Jim Bowden of The Athletic didn’t hold back in his critique of Toronto’s handling of its young superstars.
“The Blue Jays have really misplayed their hand with Guerrero and Bichette,” Bowden stated. “They should have either extended them two years ago or traded them by this point. Now they’re both one-year rentals… with diminished trade value.”
While negotiations for a long-term extension with Guerrero are reportedly ongoing, the slugger has yet to receive an offer that matches his expectations, especially after Juan Soto’s record-breaking $765 million deal with the New York Mets. Meanwhile, rumors swirl that Bichette might be on the trade block for the right offer.
Bowden suggests the Blue Jays’ missed opportunities have cost them leverage. “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.”
With the clock ticking, the pressure is mounting for the Blue Jays’ front office to chart a decisive course. Whether it’s committing to their stars through extensions or pivoting to a rebuild with blockbuster trades, Toronto must act swiftly to avoid further jeopardizing their future.
