The Yankees are positioning themselves for another big-name pursuit, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could be their next target.
After missing out on Juan Soto this winter, New York quickly shifted gears, bringing in Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, Max Fried, and Devin Williams. It’s a complete roster overhaul that’s set them up nicely for 2025 – and possibly beyond.
MLB insider Jon Heyman sees the Yankees as a top contender to land Guerrero when he hits free agency next winter. They’re sitting third in the early odds, behind the Red Sox and Mets.
“(Very) early favorites to land Vlad Jr. this winter: 1. Red Sox 2. Mets (assuming Pete opts out) 3. Yankees”
The way the Yankees structured their recent moves suggests they might’ve been eyeing Guerrero all along. Instead of committing huge money to Soto, they’ve gone with shorter deals that give them flexibility for next winter.
Take Goldschmidt’s situation. He’s on a one-year, $12.5 million contract at first base – exactly where Guerrero plays. When that deal expires after this season, there’s going to be an obvious opening at first.
Guerrero’s already built quite a resume with the Blue Jays. In six seasons, he’s racked up:
• Four All-Star appearances
• Two Silver Slugger Awards
• One Gold Glove Award
Spotrac projects he’ll command something like a 12-year, $427 million deal. That’s serious money, but it could make sense for the Yankees. They’re looking for someone to pair with Aaron Judge as their core players start getting older.
The competition for Guerrero’s going to be fierce. But after missing out on Soto, the Yankees seem ready to remind everyone they’re still the team that can land baseball’s biggest stars. It’s looking like next winter could get interesting in the Bronx.
