The Toronto Blue Jays could explore the idea of trading their superstar infielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr. before he hits unrestricted free agency next offseason. Spotrac projects Guerrero to sign for $427 million when he hits free agency next winter.
The San Diego Padres opted to trade superstar Juan Soto to the New York Yankees ahead of Soto's walk year. Ultimately, this deal worked out much better for the Padres as the Yankees lost Soto to free agency.
Now the Blue Jays could take a page from the Padres' book and deal their own superstar.
Cody Williams of FanSided recently listed the Boston Red Sox as the favorites to land Guerrero if the Blue Jays opt to trade him.
"As the future of Vladimir Guerrero has consistently shifted toward being played out somewhere other than Toronto, a Blue Jays rival in the Boston Red Sox have been the most consistently mentioned favorite to land him in free agency," Williams wrote. "When you look at Boston's massive need for a right-handed bat, their potential willingness to move Triston Casas or at least shuffle things around with him and Rafael Devers, or even their potential to upgrade from Masataka Yoshida at DH, the Red Sox remain the biggest threat for Vladdy if Atkins and the Blue Jays can be talked out of their unwise stubbornness."
While the Red Sox are American League East rivals of the Blue Jays, they are still the most logical suitor.
Not only does Boston have the need for a bat like Guerrero, but the Red Sox also have quite a bit of trade pieces to move in the deal.
A trade centered around Triston Casas, as Williams notes, would be the perfect groundwork for a trade. Casas would replace Guerrero in Toronto while being much more affordable and under contract for a lot longer.
Of course, the Red Sox would need to move multiple other top prospects to acquire Guerrero, but the groundwork is there.
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