New York Mets Land Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in Five-Player Swap
In a blockbuster move to bolster their lineup, the New York Mets to acquired four-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. from the Toronto Blue Jays. The deal, which involves five players, sees top prospect Ronny Mauricio heading north to Toronto, signaling a major shift in the Mets’ future plans.
Guerrero, 25, is one of the most feared power hitters in Major League Baseball. Over his career, he has posted impressive numbers, including a .286 batting average, 160 home runs, and 477 RBIs. His arrival in Queens is expected to fill the void left by Pete Alonso, whose future with the Mets has been uncertain following ongoing contract discussions.
The trade, which also includes minor league prospects on both sides, represents the Mets’ commitment to competing in the present while retooling their roster. Mauricio, who was ranked as the Mets’ top prospect, had shown promise in his brief appearances but was deemed expendable as the Mets aim for immediate success.
The Mets’ front office is optimistic that Guerrero’s bat will provide the offensive spark needed to contend in the National League East. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays bolster their farm system with the addition of Mauricio, a highly regarded middle infielder with a bright future ahead.
There would be no better addition for the present and future than Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has made the last four All-Star games and won two Silver Slugger Awards as the first baseman of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Guerrero is projected for a $28.8 million salary in 2025 but could become a free agent after the upcoming season, so the Blue Jays might be looking to recoup some value for him in a trade this winter. With that in mind, Jim Riley of BALLCAP Sports proposed a four-player blockbuster that would bring Guerrero to the Mets.
Riley suggested that the Mets could land Guerrero by giving up prospects Ronny Mauricio, Blade Tidwell and Ryan Clifford, as well as pitcher Tylor Megill.
“Mauricio is number four by Baseball America in that Mets organization heading into 2025,” Riley said. “We’re also going to have Ryan Clifford in the deal. Clifford is the number six Mets prospect. We’re going to have Tylor Megill, that is your guaranteed right-now piece. He’s either in the bullpen or he’s in the back of the rotation. And we’re going to have … Blade Tidwell, a pitching prospect who last year was in the Mets’ top 10.”
If the Blue Jays feel like they are out of contention to extend Guerrero or sign him to his next contract, this haul of four players could motivate them to deal the slugger to the Mets.
“You get a couple pieces for down the road and a couple pieces for right now if you’re the Toronto Blue Jays,” Riley added.
That would be a high price for the Mets to pay if Guerrero is indeed a one-year rental, so it might not make sense as a move to simply fill their first base vacancy for 2025. But if the team has reason to believe trading for Guerrero now would land them a star they can pair with Soto for the next decade-plus, then they might be giving the Blue Jays a call.
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