Much of Canada has been experiencing extreme cold this week, while in Florida, the weather is warming up in preparation for baseball, as players and coaches start arriving for spring training.

The Blue Jays will begin camp next Wednesday with pitchers and catchers having their first workout. The rest of the players will join them on February 18, and the first spring training game will take place on February 22.

With baseball’s return on the horizon, this is the last mailbag of the off-season, but we’ll continue them throughout spring training and the regular season. To participate, email bluejaysmailbag@gmail.com.

**It seems everything about Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been quiet the last couple of weeks. Is this good news or bad news? Like many others, I’ll be very upset if the Jays don’t sign Vlad long term.**

— Brian, Waterloo

I wouldn’t say it’s good or bad news; it’s just expected. Guerrero set Feb. 18 as the deadline for contract talks, the first day position players are set to work out. If he hasn’t signed by then, he intends to become a free agent at the end of the year.

The benefit of a deadline is that it forces both sides to negotiate. The downside is that each party often holds their best offer until the clock is about to run out. The past couple of weeks have been the calm before the storm, but with pitchers and catchers set to report on Wednesday, expect the drama to ramp up soon.

**Are Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins going to sign Vladdy? I want to believe they will, and their offers to Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto show they have the money. But I’m also worried that if it was going to happen, maybe it would’ve already by now?**

— Tom, Mississauga

I used to feel the same way. Last year, I even wrote a column arguing that if an extension was going to happen before free agency, it likely would’ve already been signed. I’m less sure now for two reasons:

1. The pursuit of Soto showed the Jays can make massive offers to players not named Ohtani, who is a unique case as a two-way player and marketing icon.
2. Guerrero has repeatedly expressed his desire to stay with the Jays. While it could just be lip service, he’s also reportedly had a specific number in mind, and if the Jays offer it, he’ll sign. If that’s the case, these talks could be straightforward.

I’m still not fully convinced the current front office wants to commit to a power-hitting first baseman with a deal likely to exceed $400 million (U.S.), but they may not have a choice. Locking up Guerrero long term would help repair the reputation of a front office that’s faced criticism, and it would shift some of the focus away from previous off-season misses. If they don’t get a deal done, though, the pressure will only intensify.

**Why hasn’t there been any talk about the Jays signing Bo Bichette? Vladdy might be the priority, but can’t we take care of both at the same time? Bichette’s demands will soar if he has a good year!**

— Phil, Barrie

Unlike Guerrero, Bichette doesn’t have much leverage after hitting .225 with a .598 on-base percentage across 81 games in 2024. If he were a free agent right now, coming off a season like that, he’d likely seek a short-term deal, similar to Marcus Semien’s contract in 2021.

The reason Bichette may be inclined to wait is that, prior to 2024, he was one of baseball’s most consistent players. If he bounces back, last season will be seen as an anomaly, and he could then be paid like a perennial All-Star. Any team trying to sign him now would be looking to do so at a discount.

It’s possible the Jays and Bichette could meet somewhere in the middle, but considering his track record as a “bet-on-himself” type, free agency seems more likely.

**What do you think of this hypothetical move by the Jays if they can’t sign Vladdy: 1. Sign Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso; 2. Trade Vladdy and Bichette for pitching and outfield help.**

— Don A.

I’m not a fan, but it’s irrelevant now since reports surfaced late Wednesday night that Alonso re-signed with the Mets. The Jays’ pitching staff is solid enough as is—at least that’s the bet—and upgrading the outfield by trading Guerrero and Bichette would likely cause more problems than it solves. The only way I’d support bringing in Bregman would be if he were added to complement the current group. Signing him to replace one of the others wouldn’t prevent an eventual rebuild and could just turn into a contract the Jays would later need to offload.

**I’m still feeling giddy about Max Scherzer. I know he’s not the same as before, but his Hall of Fame work ethic will rub off on the young pitchers. Who do you think will benefit the most from having Max around every day?**

— Jill, Toronto

The young pitchers? Well, what young pitchers? The Jays are projected to have one of the oldest pitching staffs in baseball. Scherzer is 40, Chris Bassitt is about to turn 36, Kevin Gausman is 34, and Jose Berrios turns 31 later this year. Even Bowden Francis, who some might consider a prospect, is 29 in April. This is a talented staff, but it’s not a young one.

Scherzer wasn’t signed to be a mentor; he was brought in to help the Jays win. His presence in spring training might have some influence on minor-league prospects like Trey Yesavage and Ricky Tiedemann, but their interactions will be limited to the six-week spring training period. The focus of this deal is not on Scherzer’s off-field impact but what he still has to offer on the mound.

**Boy, that article should get you a reduction in your Rogers bill and a visit to the Sky Box. Did one of Edward Rogers’ (stooges) help with the article? It’s all well and good for him to open up the Rogers wallet, but as long as Dumb (Shapiro) and Dumber (Atkins) are making the player decisions, the Jays are doomed to mediocrity. Instead of wasting money, he needs to step up and dump the two Cleveland carpetbaggers.**

While I understand your frustration, it’s important to keep in mind that both Shapiro and Atkins have played a role in the team’s successes and failures. Every move comes with risks and rewards. The Scherzer deal is about adding another quality arm to an already talented staff, and whether it’s the right move in the long run will be determined on the field. The front office will continue to be under scrutiny, but it’s all part of the unpredictable nature of baseball.

**Believe it or not, Nigel provided one of the more polite responses to last week’s column in which I offered some praise for ownership. It’s a good thing there aren’t Rotten Tomatoes scores for columns because, if there were, my piece would have generated about 10 per cent.**

My apparent mistake was trying to separate resources from everything else. I took the view that spending more than $250 million and maintaining a top-five payroll is worthy of praise, especially considering those of us who lived through the penny-pinching days when Interbrew owned the team. The intent wasn’t to endorse the entire organization but to point out that the Jays’ chances this year likely rely less on player development or a savvy trade and more on the financial backing from Rogers to cover past mistakes.

I stand by that, but I do think some of my points could have been worded better. After all, I wrote, “Beyond demanding additional accountability from the front office, what more could fans want from the man cutting the cheques?” Gee, I don’t know, dummy, maybe some more wins?