The Toronto Blue Jays have reached the postseason in the last two years, largely due to their young superstars Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. However, as the team currently sits in last place in the American League East at the start of the 2024 season, these young stars might be traded before this year’s deadline.
“I don’t think they’re opposed to it,” an unnamed executive told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. “They’ve talked to teams about it. The asks were ridiculous, but I think they’re going to try to retool a lot, and using those guys to get pieces may be the way to do it.”
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Guerrero Jr., an All-Star in 2021, 2022, and 2023, is currently hitting .286/.381/.394 over 175 at-bats, a significant drop from the high slugging percentages that have been his career highlight. Guerrero Jr. signed a one-year, $19.9 million deal to avoid arbitration this year and has one more arbitration season next year before potentially becoming a free agent in 2026.
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Bichette, an All-Star in 2021 and 2023, has also seen a decline, slashing .230/.289/.333, well below his career averages. Bichette agreed to a three-year, $33.6 million contract this past offseason and can also become a free agent in 2026.
Although there is no immediate urgency to trade either player from a free agency standpoint, the Blue Jays might be ready to move on, as trading them now could yield a high return.
“Guerrero will be a free agent after the 2025 season and the Blue Jays have yet to sign him to a long-term deal,” Jim Bowden recently noted for The Athletic. “They’d get a much better return in a trade now than they would in the offseason or in the lead-up to next year’s trade deadline; therefore, they’ll need to seriously consider dealing him this July if they fall out of the race.”
Change of Scenery Could Help Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Given the potential both players have shown in previous seasons, it’s understandable that the Blue Jays are maintaining “ridiculous” asking prices for now. They could ultimately secure a significant return for either or both players, especially if they improve their performance and other teams become convinced of their potential to transform their rosters.
“Neither of them are off to great starts, but other teams might view them as change-of-scenery guys,” a National League executive told Feinsand. “Everyone knows what these guys can do, but that roster might just need a change.”
If the Blue Jays decide to trade talent and rebuild this season, several other players could also be on the trading block along with Guerrero Jr. and Bichette.
“Their free agents after this season include Yusei Kikuchi, Justin Turner, Kevin Kiermaier, and Danny Jansen—mostly complementary parts,” Ken Rosenthal reported for The Athletic. “But their free agents after 2025, hoo boy. Chris Bassitt. Bichette and Guerrero. Jordan Romano and a number of other relievers. A reckoning is nearly at hand.”
