Report: Blue Jays, Guerrero not close on extension
The Toronto Blue Jays and All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have discussed a contract extension but aren't close to agreeing on a deal with the trade deadline approaching, sources told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.
Guerrero, who's under contract until the end of the 2025 campaign, said he wants to stay with the Blue Jays even though they look like sellers before the July 30 deadline.
"I would love to be in Toronto," Guerrero said, according to Feinsand.
"My family loves Toronto, my kids love Toronto, but at the end of the day, it's a business. We all need to understand that, so whatever happens, happens. Definitely, I would like to stay there."
The 25-year-old's name has popped up in trade rumors after a rival executive told Feinsand in May the Blue Jays had "talked to teams" about potentially trading him and shortstop Bo Bichette.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins responded to the rumors by saying trading Guerrero or Bichette "doesn't make any sense for us."
However, Guerrero added some fuel to the rumor mill fire when he appeared to rescind old claims that he would never play for the New York Yankees.
"Like I tell you, I'm a player, and if a team picks me or if they do something, it's because they need it, obviously, and I'll be happy to help any team," he said in June. "But right now, I'm just focused on helping my team try to get out of this bad streak."
The slugger was just selected to his fourth All-Star Game after entering the break hitting .288/.359/.456 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs. He's owed the remainder of his $19.9-million salary for this season.
The Blue Jays entered the break in last place in the American League East and 9.5 games back of the final AL wild-card spot.