Red Sox rumors: Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would ‘love to be' with Boston in 2026 (report)
The Red Sox lineup could see a big bat added to the heart of the lineup… next offseason. According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale on Tuesday, Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would “love to be with" the team if Toronto fails to sign him and he becomes a free agent following the upcoming season.
Nightengale wrote that Guerrero wants at least a $450 million contract, and he and Toronto “are at least $100 million apart.” He would add that, “If Guerrero doesn’t receive an extension by spring training, he’ll test free agency and likely will be wearing a Red Sox uniform in 2026. If Guerrero doesn’t return to the Blue Jays, he would love to be with the Red Sox, friends say, which may be why the Red Sox are hesitant in their pursuit of (Alex) Bregman.”
Guerrero, 25, mashed for the Blue Jays last season, batting .323 while slashing .396/.544/.940 OPS with 30 homers, 44 doubles, one triple, 103 RBIs, 98 runs, 72 walks, and 96 strikeouts in 159 games.
If by some chance John Henry gives chief baseball officer Craig Breslow the green light to sign Guerrero—and that’s a big if—he would check off a lot of boxes for the Red Sox. Guerrero would give Boston an elite hitter from the right side of the plate and create a formidable 3/4 combo with Rafael Devers in the middle of the lineup. He’s spent his entire career in the American League East and has played 45 games at Fenway Park.
He’s a career .356 hitter with 10 homers, 18 doubles, 25 walks, and 44 RBI, a 1.054 OPS, and over 206 career plate appearances in front of the Green Monster.
If the Red Sox can move on from Masataka Yoshida before next offseason, manager Alex Cora could rotate Devers, Guerrero, and Triston Casas at designated hitter or in the field.
Guerrero won’t come cheap and will force the Red Sox to dip deep into their wallets to land the star hitter. Boston will not be the only suitor for Guerrero; other teams in the league, like the Dodgers and Mets, will seemingly be involved based on their past history of activity in free agency.
The other option to avoid other teams vying for his services in the offseason, Breslow could try and trade for Guerrero and then pay him after. With just one year left on his deal, Boston could get Guerrero cheaper in terms of prospect capital going back to Toronto for the slugger. It's a good sign that a player of his caliber is interested in joining the Red Sox. Until Henry changes his ways from a spending standpoint, fans will be skeptical on whether Guerrero will come to Boston in a trade or free agency.
