PETER CHAWAGA
The Philadelphia Phillies got some troubling, if somewhat expected, news this week.
After a prolonged bidding process, the New York Mets agreed to a record-breaking $765 million contract with Juan Soto, locking in a generational talent for years to come and instantly making the National League East Division much more difficult to win.
Perhaps most troubling of all for the Phillies is that the historic nature of the new deal demonstrates that Mets owner Steve Cohen is willing to spend virtually any amount to secure the players he wants. If the Phillies hope to repeat as division champions in 2025 and to combat the Mets’ long-term winning power, Christopher Kline of FanSided has urged the team to lock in a generational talent of their own.
“Next winter’s marquee free agent is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who still hasn’t inked an extension despite well-documented interest in prolonging his stay in Toronto,” Kline noted. “The Phillies’ window of contention is gradually closing with (Bryce) Harper and (Trea) Turner, who have already peaked. Guerrero extends their competitive timeline a great deal, assuming Philadelphia ponies up with the necessary extension — whether it’s $400 million or $800 million.”
After six seasons with the Blue Jays, Guerrero is entering his final year of contract arbitration eligibility in 2025 before becoming a free agent. He’s been a four-time All-Star and a two-time Silver Slugger, with at least 25 homers in each of the last four seasons, so an extension or new deal won’t be cheap.
Kline urged the Phillies to trade for Guerrero, possibly including All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm in a prospective package, so they can extend him before he reaches free agency. Such a trade could appeal to the Blue Jays if they expect to lose Guerrero to higher bidders next winter. Of course, if Guerrero does reach free agency, the Phillies might just bid on his services when the time comes.
Landing him in a trade for the 2025 season, though, would give the Phillies an extra season with one of the best hitters in baseball added to their core of stars. And it could kick off some epic divisional battles between Guerrero and Soto that might endure for years to come. It seems like a longshot given how much the Blue Jays value Guerrero, but the possibility should certainly appeal to the Phillies.
“This is a pipe dream, to be clear, but Guerrero’s arrival would profoundly change the Phillies’ standing in the NL East,” Kline added. “This could end up as (Dave) Dombrowski’s greatest achievement as Philadelphia’s GM, which is obviously a high bar.”
Now that the Mets have raised the stakes in a big way with Soto, perhaps it’s time for the Phillies to answer in kind.