Atkins on extension talks with Guerrero Jr.: We’ve ‘worked extremely hard’ on finding ways to extend Vlad

Time is running out for the Toronto Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins met with the media Thursday and shared the latest update regarding contract extension talks with four-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

“We’ve worked extremely hard on keeping Vlad here for a long time,” Atkins said, according to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. “The desire is strong, and we will continue to do that.”

Atkins refused to reveal any details of negotiations, fearing that doing so would hinder talks with Guerrero Jr.'s camp.

“Anything I share decreases the likelihood of us getting something done, which is our goal. I can say that we have worked very hard and has Barry (Praver) to find a way, if there is one.”

The two-time Silver Slugger set a self-imposed deadline for contract talks when full-team workouts begin on Feb. 18. Atkins said the team will respect Guerrero Jr.’s wishes if a deal is not reached by Tuesday.

"We will be very respectful of Vlad and his desire to have that. We understand and respect it, but we will never close that door."

According to Matheson, Blue Jays manager John Schneider reiterated the desire to keep Guerrero Jr. with Toronto.

“We all want Vlad to be here. Ross has said that, and I’ve said that. You just keep working towards it, and hopefully, it happens, but our conversations have really been about this year and how we can get better.”

Fellow Blue Jay José Berrios added Guerrero Jr. is eager to stay with the Blue Jays.

"He wants to be here. The way he's been talking to me, he wants to be here. Toronto Blue Jays fans love him. They want him on the team."

The Blue Jays and Guerrero Jr. were reportedly more than $100 million apart in early January. On the ‘Abriendo El Podcast’ in December, Guerrero Jr. shared that the Blue Jays offered him a $340 million contract before turning it down. Recent reports have shown the gap has narrowed.

Guerrero Jr. enters the 2025 season in his third and final year of arbitration, earning $28.5 million after a bounce-back 2024 season, in which he hit 30 home runs, drove in 103 RBIs, and posted a 6.7 WAR.