The vultures appear to be circling the Toronto Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Conversations have taken place between the Blue Jays and New York Mets about a trade for the All-Star first baseman, though discussions are characterized as "checking in," SportsNet New York's Andy Martino reported on Wednesday.
Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays recently avoided arbitration with a one-year, $28.5-million deal and the two have also had on-going talks of an extension this off-season, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.
The slugger is set to reach free agency after next season and has set the first day of spring training as a deadline for negotiations on a contract extension.
Long-time Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, meanwhile, is still lingering in free agency.
Still, "a Mets/Guerrero fit remains in the realm of fantasy baseball," Martino wrote.
Guerrero Jr., 25, bounced back from two down years last season, posting a .323 batting average with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs.
Fellow franchise cornerstone Bo Bichette is scheduled to hit the open market at the same time as Guerrero Jr., putting the Blue Jays at something of a crossroads following a 73-89 record and last-place finish in the AL East in 2024.
In the meantime, Toronto has bolstered its roster by signing All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman to a three-year, $33 million contract and trading for slick-fielding second baseman Andres Gimenez from the Cleveland Guardians.
The Mets made the biggest splash of the MLB off-season to date, winning the Juan Soto sweepstakes by handing the right-fielder a 15-year, $765 million deal.
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