After a fourth-place finish in the NL East in 2023, the New York Mets went on a Cinderella run in 2024. The Mets were 42-44 through July 5 before winning seven of nine games heading into the All-Star break, three games above .500.
The Mets were one of the hottest teams down the stretch, owning a 40-27 record during the second half of the season. They made the playoffs as the final Wild Card team and reached the NLCS. The Mets’ magical season came to an end after losing to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.
Mets fans who thought they had a shot at landing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have had their dreams dashed
The Mets made the biggest move of the offseason, signing superstar outfielder Juan Soto to a massive 15-year, $765 million contract. The team, particularly the fans, didn’t want to stop there.
Toronto Blue Jays four-time All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was set to be a free agent after the 2025 season. Mets fans were dreaming about the possibility of signing the slugger to a long-term deal, even going as far as cheering Guerrero Jr. as an opposing player at Citi Field this past weekend.
Signing Soto might’ve taken the Mets out of the running for Guerrero Jr. from a financial standpoint, but there was significant interest. The organization reportedly checked in on his availability while Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays were having long-standing negotiations regarding an extension.
Any chance of Guerrero Jr. wearing a Mets uniform anytime soon is over. Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays agreed to a 14-year, $500 million contract extension with a full no-trade clause.
Trust me we are good especially after this weekend
— Pete Alonso enthusiast (@PeteAlonsoishim) April 7, 2025
Phillies fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won't be coming to the NL East
Guerrero Jr. staying in the AL East instead of potentially joining the NL East with the Mets is good news for the Philadelphia Phillies. The division is already among the best in the majors between the Phillies, Mets and Atlanta Braves. The Washington Nationals are also an up-and-coming team with a surplus of young talent. The last thing the Phillies needed was to have another superstar join a division rival.
Guerrero Jr. is a career .287 hitter with 160 home runs and 511 RBIs, including 48 home runs and 111 RBIs with a 1.002 OPS in 2021. The 26-year-old is off to a slow start in 2025, hitting just .256 with no home runs through 10 games, but with the contract negotiations behind him and his future decided, he’ll likely bounce back to the player he’s capable of being.
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