The New York Yankees are already the frontrunner in the 2026 Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. free agency – or at least in one former MLB executive's eyes. After the Toronto Blue Jays slugger announced he was heading to free agency instead of signing an extension,

By this time next year, New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner will have converted a hater into a lover, one former MLB general manager predicts. Steve Phillips, the ex-GM of the New York Mets, foresees Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

With months of speculation ahead for the Toronto Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as he prepares to enter free agency after the 2025 season, the star slugger seemingly has put a bit of long-running speculation to bed.

The Yankees once made Vladimir Guerrero Jr. move inside the dugout when he was a kid, and he's held it against them since.

Different reports have speculated what Guerrero was seeking and what the Blue Jays ultimately offered. On Friday's episode of The Baseball Insiders Podcast, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Guerrero is "going to expect over $500 million" in free agency ( h/t Bleacher Report ).

For Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., next offseason could be a financial bonanza. To most insiders, he is the top free agent on next year’s market, capable of fetching the longest contract at the highest price of any of the expected free agents. It will be his first time as a free agent.

Former Mets GM Steve Phillips predicts Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will sign with the New York Yankees in 2026 after entering free agency.

The Toronto Blue Jays failed to extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and now run the risk of losing him to the New York Yankees next winter.