On Monday night, the Rogers Centre paid tribute to Toronto sports icon Vladimir Guerrero Jr. by hosting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bobblehead night, where fans received collectible figurines of the talented first baseman. Guerrero contributed to the occasion by launching a solo home run in the fourth inning. Despite his impressive performance, the Toronto Blue Jays ultimately fell 7-2 to the Baltimore Orioles, further highlighting the challenges the team faces.
As the July 30 trade deadline approaches and the Blue Jays find themselves at the bottom of the American League East, trade rumors surrounding Guerrero and shortstop Bo Bichette persist. Both players have the potential to enter the free agent market after the 2025 season, making them attractive targets for other teams. Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins addressed these rumors over the weekend, asserting that trading Guerrero and Bichette “just doesn’t make any sense for us.” He expressed his belief in the players’ abilities and expressed a desire for them to remain with the team for the long term.
Guerrero and Bichette are considered the cornerstones of the Blue Jays’ future championship aspirations, having made their Major League debuts in 2019. Despite the completion of a $400 million renovation of the Rogers Centre this year, the team is still in the process of constructing a roster capable of competing for a World Series title.
While Guerrero had an exceptional breakout season in 2021, leading the majors in home runs (48) and runs scored (123), he has not replicated that level of performance this year. However, he was selected to the AL All-Star team and even earned the game’s Most Valuable Player award. Notably, Guerrero Jr. joined his father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., in winning the All-Star Home Run Derby, making them the first father-son duo to achieve this feat in the competition’s history.
In the current season, both Guerrero and Bichette have experienced a decline in power, collectively hitting only 10 home runs. These struggles add to the challenges faced by the Toronto Blue Jays as they strive to meet the high expectations set for the team.
