DUNEDIN, Fla. — First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays were unable to finalize a contract extension before Monday night’s deadline, leaving the 25-year-old talent set to enter free agency in November.

“They had their figures, and I had mine,” Guerrero remarked on Tuesday.

A four-time All-Star and son of Hall of Fame player Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. noted that the last communication from the Blue Jays occurred at 10:30 p.m. Monday. When asked if the team was approaching his demands, Guerrero candidly said, “No.”

With no agreement reached, Guerrero intends to cease negotiations and focus on completing the season as a soon-to-be free agent.

“I’m committed to my time here. We couldn’t reach a deal, so now they will have to compete with 29 other teams,” Guerrero stated.

The failure to secure a contract is another setback for the Blue Jays, who have faced challenges in acquiring top-tier talent in recent seasons. Their efforts to recruit two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani and outfielder Juan Soto ended disappointingly, as they both opted for contracts with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, respectively. The possibility of losing their top homegrown talent since Halladay is particularly concerning.

“I am willing to do everything possible to remain with this team because I want to be here,” Guerrero expressed on Tuesday.

Toronto might look into trading Guerrero, who could yield a significant return in the market. However, sources indicate that the Blue Jays prefer to begin the season with Guerrero on the roster and revisit trading options as the July deadline nears.

Throughout his six seasons with Toronto, Guerrero has established himself as one of baseball’s most formidable hitters. In the previous season, he boasted an impressive .323/.396/.544 batting line, with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs. When he hits free agency in November, he is anticipated to attract some of the largest contract proposals in baseball history from big-market teams.

Following the 15-year, $765 million contract signed by Soto with the Mets this winter — part of a remarkable international signing class of 2015 alongside Guerrero and Fernando Tatis Jr. — the free-agent possibilities for Guerrero surpass what Toronto was willing to offer.

The Blue Jays have attempted for years to secure Guerrero on a long-term basis without success. As the deadline approached, discussions began to intensify this week in hopes of reaching a mutually agreeable contract.

Now without a deal, Guerrero is set to report to the team’s first full workout Tuesday, with the cloud of his free agency looming over Toronto’s season after last year’s last-place finish in the American League East.

Since his debut shortly after his 20th birthday in 2019, Guerrero has been a standout player, launching 15 home runs as a rookie. His breakout year came in 2021 when he finished as the runner-up to Aaron Judge in MVP voting, achieving a .311/.401/.601 batting line with 48 home runs and 111 RBIs.

Guerrero’s performance in 2022 and 2023, while strong, fell short of expectations, and he struggled in May of last season with an OPS below .750. However, over his last 116 games, he returned to form, delivering a remarkable .343/.407/.604 batting average with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs.

The Blue Jays face potential challenges ahead, especially considering Guerrero and shortstop Bo Bichette are both heading for free agency after the 2025 season. While Bichette is expected not to return after this season, the team hoped to retain Guerrero as a franchise cornerstone.

With an anticipated payroll exceeding the luxury tax threshold of $241 million, the Blue Jays are aiming for a playoff-contending team but could easily find themselves in the lower standings alongside the improved New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, consistently strong Tampa Bay Rays, and up-and-coming Baltimore Orioles in the same division.

The Toronto franchise has already experienced significant roster changes this offseason, missing out on signings including Soto and first baseman Pete Alonso with the Mets, left-hander Max Fried with the Yankees, and infielder Alex Bregman with the Red Sox. They did manage to sign outfielder Anthony Santander to a lucrative five-year, $92.5 million deal, added future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer on a one-year, $15.5 million contract, enhanced their bullpen with right-handers Jeff Hoffman and Yimi Garcia, and traded for Platinum Glove-winning second baseman Andres Gimenez.

The financial commitments made by Toronto offer significant flexibility for the future, especially if they set aside the substantial amounts they were prepared to offer Guerrero. Beyond Guerrero, both Bichette and Scherzer, along with right-hander Chris Bassitt and relievers Chad Green and Erik Swanson, will also be free agents following this season. After 2026, the lucrative contracts of outfielder George Springer and right-hander Kevin Gausman will also come off the books.

Building a team around Guerrero would have provided a solid foundation. Notably, he is one of only a dozen MLB players with two or more six Wins Above Replacement seasons since 2021, consistently ranking among the leaders in hardest-hit balls, which often correlates with success.

Much like his father, who achieved 449 home runs and a .318 batting average over his impressive 16-year career, Guerrero possesses extraordinary bat-to-ball skills combined with elite power. Throughout his six MLB seasons, he has recorded a .288/.363/.500 batting line, hit 160 home runs, accumulated 507 RBIs, and struck out 551 times against 349 walks across 3,540 plate appearances.

Having originally played as a third baseman, Guerrero transitioned to first base during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. If the Blue Jays had signed Alonso, this could have suggested a potential return of Guerrero to third base, where he played 12 games last year.

Without an extension agreed upon, the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Guerrero will have to wait to navigate a market that was previously highlighted by the eight-year, $248 million extension signed by Miguel Cabrera shortly before his 31st birthday in 2014.

Teams lacking long-term solutions at first base beyond 2025, such as the Yankees (who have Paul Goldschmidt on a one-year deal) and the Mets (where Alonso can opt out after the season), could be poised to target Guerrero, who will turn 26 in March.