The Toronto Blue Jays are heading into a new chapter, and at the heart of it is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. With Bo Bichette now in Queens after signing a three-year, $126 million deal with the Mets, the spotlight in Toronto shifts more squarely onto Guerrero-not just as a bat in the lineup, but as a leader in the clubhouse.
Manager John Schneider isn’t shying away from that reality. In fact, he sees it as an opportunity for Guerrero to step into a larger leadership role, something that’s been quietly building for years.
“If anything, it allows Vlad to have a louder voice and be more free,” Schneider said Monday. “When you get so locked in with somebody day-to-day for eight or 10 years, you have that as a norm. I think this is an opportunity for Vlad to have a louder voice and understand that this has been his team, and it's going to continue to be his team.”
It’s a natural evolution. Guerrero and Bichette came up through the Blue Jays’ system together, forming a dynamic young core that reached the big leagues in 2019 and helped guide the team to four postseason appearances, including a run to the 2025 World Series and the franchise’s first AL East title in a decade. Their bond was more than just baseball-it was foundational to the team’s identity.
But front offices evolve, and so do rosters. This winter, Toronto opted to retool rather than reunite, bringing in right-hander Dylan Cease, slugger Kazuma Okamoto, and arms Cody Ponce and Tyler Rogers in free agency. Bichette, meanwhile, found a new home in New York.
For Guerrero, it was a tough pill to swallow-at least at first.
“Obviously, I was sad,” Guerrero admitted through an interpreter. “But this is part of the business.”
That’s a sentiment you often hear from veterans, but it hits differently coming from a 26-year-old who’s already seen the inner workings of the sport up close. Guerrero entered last spring in a contract stalemate with the Blue Jays. That impasse didn’t last long-he eventually signed a mammoth 14-year, $500 million extension, a deal that not only locked him in as the face of the franchise but also cemented the team’s commitment to building around him.
And now, with camp opening and a refreshed roster around him, Guerrero’s energy is noticeably different.
“We acquired new players, great players,” he said. “I think this is going to be more fun.
I'm actually happier than last year. For whatever reason, I'm happier and feeling great.
I have good feelings about this year, and I know we're capable of doing a lot of good things.”
That confidence isn’t just talk. Guerrero is coming off a postseason where he was nothing short of electric-batting .397/.494/.795 with eight home runs and 15 RBIs over 18 games. He earned ALCS MVP honors and reminded everyone just how dangerous he can be when he’s locked in.
Now, the challenge is sustaining that level of play while also embracing the leadership mantle. With Bichette gone, Guerrero becomes the emotional center of the clubhouse. And with a new wave of talent joining the fold, his voice will matter more than ever.
The Blue Jays are betting big on Guerrero-not just the player, but the presence. And if his words and postseason performance are any indication, he’s ready to lead this team into its next era.