"Let Vladimir Guerrero Jr. try to get Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto money" - Ex-Marlins president offers bold advice to Blue Jays for AL East success

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s potential contract extension with the Toronto Blue Jays before he turns free agent next winter has got many talking. Some believe that the Blue Jays must get it done before spring training, while others believe that it's better to cut off the negotiation to keep him motivated for the season.

David Samson, a former Miami Marlins president, weighed in on the Blue Jays’ handling of Guerrero's contract situation. Samson's comments came following the announcement that Guerrero and the Blue Jays had agreed a one-year, $28.5 million settlement, avoiding arbitration.

In Friday's episode of "Nothing Personal with David Samson," the host advised the Blue Jays to shift their focus entirely to ensure that Guerrero has a stellar 2025 season. That would mean motivating him to have a fine year ahead of free agency by cutting off negotiations.

"If the Blue Jays are smart, they will tell Vladimir from the first day of spring training that they are cutting off any negotiations for a long-term deal," Samson said (1:50 onwards). "Don't do a half-time, 'Hey, we'd be happy to talk during the season,' to Juan Soto. That doesn't work. You want Vladimir focused on having a healthy, unbelievable season.

"Let him try to get Ohtani and Soto money. Let him try to beat all—beat Judge, beat all the position players. Let him sky right past any first base or designated hitter contracts because what it means is that he will have had a healthy, productive platform year, and that gives the Blue Jays the best chance to succeed as a team in that very tough AL East Division."

Samson’s rationale is straightforward: a fully locked-in and motivated Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will give the Blue Jays their best shot at contending in the competitive AL East.

---

David Samson shares his take on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s arbitration settlement number

According to David Samson, the $28.5 million settlement is logical and fair, given Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s market value. He noted that when a player reaches the final year of arbitration, they could use free-agent contracts as comparables in negotiations.

"Vladimir Guerrero in the open market at $28.5 million is a reasonable settlement for the Blue Jays and for Vladimir," Samson said. "That settlement does not mean that the Blue Jays are more or less apt to sign him to a long-term deal. It actually is not correlated in any way to what their plan is.

"What it only shows you is that when you can't come to an agreement on a long-term deal with a pending free agent, you say, 'Let's table the talks of extension and of free agent deals, and let's start focusing on a one-year deal.'"

In this context, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s $28.5 million figure aligns with past arbitration outcomes for elite players like Juan Soto ($31 million) and Shohei Ohtani ($30 million).