Many baseball fans assumed that the Houston Astros’ mid-week series against the Toronto Blue Jays would provide an up-close opportunity for Dana Brown and the ALCS regulars to see first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., one of their top trade prospects.
The Astros have been frequently linked to Vladdy in recent weeks for obvious reasons. Houston expected, or hoped, that Jose Abreu would be the consistent first-base option. Instead, he was one of the worst hitters in MLB, eventually leading to his release and, thus, opening the door to a potential upgrade at the trade deadline — especially with the Astros turning it on in the latter half of June and moving firmly into the playoff race.
However, if Guerrero Jr. had his way, based on his most recent words, he would not be leaving for the Astros — or leaving Toronto at all.
After another Blue Jays loss on July 4th, Vladdy delivered a straightforward sentiment about what he wants amid worries about his future in Toronto, both in terms of a prospective contract extension and the trade deadline in less than a month, according to Scott Mitchell of TSN.
“Man, I do not want to leave. I want to stay here for the rest of my life. “But this is business,” Guerrero Jr. explained.
Astros’ trade objective Vladimir Guerrero Jr. does not want to leave the Blue Jays.
Of course, does what Guerrero Jr. wants really matter in this case? Probably not, if we’re being honest. In a perfect world, the Blue Jays could feel similarly. They do not live in an ideal world, however. Vladdy is a free agency after the 2025 season and will expect a massive new contract, while Toronto is now nine games under.500 and 8.5 games off of a wild card place.
That is why trade ideas involving Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, who are on the same timeframe, are being discussed. Despite their best efforts, the Blue Jays appear to be a long way from competing and contending meaningfully with Vladdy and Bichette. As a result, it may be advantageous for them to perform a full reset, which would entail dealing either of these young talents.
All of this to imply that if the Astros are serious about pursuing Guerrero at the trade deadline, they should still be on the phone with the Blue Jays. Having said that, there are other options — most recently, Christian Walker was rumoured to be a target for the Astros — who will likely cost significantly less in terms of the assets required to complete the trade.
Vladdy’s current desire to spend his entire career in Toronto may also influence the Astros’ decision-making. Will this make an extension with Houston less likely, or at least less certain? That appears to be the most likely consequence, which is a difficult pill to swallow, especially given the high price.
There is still a full month until the trade deadline, and a lot can happen between then and now. However, as things progress, the Astros are one of many teams interested in Vladimir Guerrero and now have even more options for a potential transaction.
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