How committed are the Boston Red Sox to making a serious World Series push in 2025? After finishing last in the AL East three times over the past five seasons and managing only a mediocre third-place finish last year, it’s understandable to question the team officials’ declarations of “extreme urgency” to win the division next season.
However, the Red Sox seem determined to make big moves, reportedly targeting the top free agent on the market, former Yankees outfielder Juan Soto, as well as several high-profile pitchers. One potential deal, if finalized, could give them the edge they need heading into 2025.
To assemble a powerhouse lineup, much will depend on convincing Soto to join the team—a move he’s said to be open to, provided the financial terms meet his expectations. The Red Sox already have a cornerstone in three-time All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers, who is under contract for eight more years as part of a $313.5 million, 10-year deal.
Vlad Guerrero Jr. Could Be Final Piece of Red Sox Big Three
Who could complete the Boston Red Sox’s “Big Three” power-hitting trio? On Friday, Locked On Red Sox podcast host Gabby Hurlbut explored this possibility, asking, “Is Vlad Guerrero Jr. to the Boston Red Sox a real possibility?”
Guerrero Jr., fresh off a 30-home-run season with a .940 OPS for the Toronto Blue Jays, boasts a career slugging percentage of .500 and ranks among MLB’s elite hitters. His offensive Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 6.3 in 2024 placed him seventh among all Major League hitters.
The 25-year-old first baseman is set to play the 2025 season on a one-year deal with the Blue Jays, earning an estimated $28.8 million, according to SpoTrac. However, unless Toronto extends his contract, Guerrero Jr. will hit free agency ahead of the 2026 season — a scenario that currently seems likely.
SpoTrac projects Guerrero Jr.’s next contract to be worth $259.8 million over 10 years, though ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan believes a $300 million deal could be the starting point. If this happens, Guerrero Jr. would likely become the highest-paid first baseman in MLB history, surpassing Albert Pujols’ 10-year, $254 million deal with the Angels in 2011.
While Guerrero Jr. has expressed interest in signing an extension and retiring as a Blue Jay, the newsletter Blue Jays Insider notes that the team does not appear to share the same urgency to finalize a deal.
How Could Boston Acquire Guerrero Jr.?
If the Toronto Blue Jays want to extract value from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., they’ll likely need to trade him either this offseason or during the 2025 season.
Hurlbut highlighted that Guerrero Jr. might be open to a move to the Red Sox, as he “liked” a social media post featuring himself, Juan Soto, and Rafael Devers in Red Sox uniforms. However, the big question is whether Boston would be willing to part with one of their highly-touted “Big Four” prospects to acquire Guerrero, especially if it’s only for a short-term stint.
Those prospects include outfielder Roman Anthony, catcher Kyle Teel, second baseman Kristian Campbell, and shortstop Marcelo Mayer. While the Red Sox have been hesitant to shop any of these players, their Chief Baseball Officer has stated that none are entirely off-limits in trade discussions.
Another possibility for Boston could be including their own power-hitting first baseman, Triston Casas, in a trade package for Guerrero. As ESPN’s Buster Olney pointed out, Casas’ market value could take a hit if he doesn’t stay healthy through 2025, making this offseason an ideal time to trade him.
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