Time is not on the Toronto Blue Jays side regarding Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Could the Red Sox be the ideal landing spot?
Guerrero has clarified that he’s open to negotiating—until the first full day of spring training. After that, the focus shifts entirely to baseball.
According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet, the Blue Jays are actively working on an extension, but it’s not guaranteed. If the two sides can’t agree, Toronto might explore a trade, ensuring they don’t lose Guerrero for nothing next winter.
The Trade Proposal: Guerrero to the Red Sox?
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer floated a jaw-dropping hypothetical trade that would send Guerrero to none other than the Boston Red Sox, one of Toronto’s fiercest division rivals.
Here’s how that deal looks on paper:
Blue Jays receive Shortstop Franklin Arias and right-handed pitcher Luis Perales (Boston’s No. 4 and No. 7 prospects per MLB Pipeline).
Red Sox received the first baseman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
At first glance, trading one of baseball’s brightest stars within the division seems like heresy. However, Rymer argues that the Red Sox has the financial flexibility to extend Guerrero and could sell him on the appeal of Fenway Park.
After all, Guerrero’s numbers at Fenway—an eye-popping 1.054 OPS—far outshine his performance at the Rogers Centre (.823 OPS). That said, the trade package notably does not include Triston Casas, Boston’s young slugging first baseman, as the two players’ trade values reportedly don’t align.
What’s in It for the Blue Jays?
For Toronto, the return could soften the blow of losing Guerrero. Franklin Arias is considered a slick-fielding shortstop with solid offensive potential at 19 years old.
Since Bo Bichette will hit free agency next winter, Arias could slide into the team’s long-term plans. Perales, meanwhile, adds to the Blue Jays’ pitching depth, a perennial priority for any contender.
Trading Within the Division: A Risky Gamble
Still, the optics of trading Guerrero to a division rival are undeniably tricky. The Blue Jays would be betting on two prospects while giving the Red Sox a proven, MVP-caliber player with plenty of prime years left.
It’s a gamble—and a divisive one at that.
Will Toronto break the bank to secure their generational talent or make the unthinkable decision to trade him to a bitter rival?
One thing’s for sure, the Blue Jays’ front office may lose some sleep over the next 30 days. Go Sox!
