Toronto fans were disappointed this week when news broke that contract extension talks between the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had stalled. With his contract set to expire after the 2025 season, Guerrero Jr. is poised to become one of the most coveted first basemen in free agency.

While many fans are criticizing the Blue Jays for not securing a contract extension with their top star, one analyst took a different stance and shifted the focus to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. instead.

MLB insider Steve Phillips believes Guerrero Jr. doesn’t carry the same value as Juan Soto, who landed a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets this offseason.

“It’s evident the Blue Jays valued Juan Soto more than Vladimir Guerrero Jr., as they prioritized pursuing Soto,” Phillips said on TSN (starting at 1:01). “The reality is that the league generally places a higher premium on left-handed-hitting outfielders with Soto’s skill set compared to right-handed-hitting first basemen, even if they are the same age.”

Phillips drew a comparison between Guerrero Jr.’s situation and that of first baseman Pete Alonso, who ended up signing a two-year, $54 million contract with the Mets after a lengthy free agency process.

This, according to Phillips, explains why the Blue Jays were reluctant to meet Guerrero Jr.’s desired contract terms.

“We saw how Pete Alonso was treated by the market—a 31-year-old right-handed power-hitting first baseman struggled to gain traction and ultimately settled back with the Mets on a two-year deal with opt-outs after each season,” Phillips explained.
“Vlad Jr. at 26 is in a different situation, but eventually, he’ll find himself in a position similar to Alonso’s. He wants to be valued the same way at 31 as he is now at 26, but I don’t think the Blue Jays viewed him that way,” Phillips explained. “There was a gap between how Guerrero Jr. saw his worth and how the team did, which ultimately led to the deal falling through.”