Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Springer (Image Source: Getty) Within Major League Baseball, where contract durations range from several years and player pay scales well into newsworthy territory, Toronto Blue Jays management has assembled a team lineup that capitalizes on star performers and economical spending measures alike. For the year 2025, there is one player on the Blue Jays who stands apart from his fellow players not only within the lineup but on paper as well, his contract terms for 2025 and his upcoming long-term contract making him literally the income pulse of this team.While the Blue Jays are taking home wins and making playoff appearances, it is interesting to calculate their wager by examining their contracts and their bonuses. In some cases, no less than for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is more than just a seventh-inning stretch bat within this lineup, as it just so happens he is the team’s most highly paid player for 2025.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Swinging for the biggest salary
As of the 2025 season, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. currently takes home the highest salary on the Blue Jays with $28.5 million, which is the biggest individual salary for a Jays player for the year. Guerrero’s contract is based on an arbitration bypass agreement he had with the Jays, which sees him as one of the league’s highly-paid players for the season. Guerrero Jr.’s contract is quite impressive considering he is part of a lineup with other big stars such as George Springer, Kevin Gausman, and Bo Bichette, to mention just a few.This 2025 raise is more than just a number in a contract; it is part of Guerrero’s larger arc from hot prospect to franchise foundation, and of course, it is simply the setup to his massive extension. It was in April 2025 that Guerrero reached an agreement to sign a record-breaking 14-year, $500 million contract that kicks in 2026, making it one of the largest contracts ever signed in Major League Baseball. It includes an absolutely massive $325 million signing bonus with no deferred components, making his value every bit as liquid as it is speedy.
From base pay to bonus: Inside the contract breakdown
Guerrero’s $28.5 million salary in 2025 already makes him the highest-paid Blue Jay, but a lot more layers exist to his financial picture than just pay per annum. The long-term extension looming over his head, which will value him at more than half a billion dollars, changes his career earnings outlook dramatically. That huge contract includes a structured signing bonus paid over multiple seasons, with incentives tied to All-Star selections, MVP voting finishes, and Silver Slugger or Gold Glove awards-bonuses that could add meaningful sums if Guerrero continues performing at elite levels.Relatively speaking, other stars on the Blue Jays, including George Springer and Kevin Gausman, make large salaries – Springer in the mid-$20 million range and Gausman at just over $23 million, neither of which eclipses Guerrero’s 2025 total.In a sport where money often follows success, the Blue Jays have placed their bet on Guerrero’s bat and his long-term potential. Whether he continues to swing for the fences or chases history with Toronto, 2025 makes one thing clear: when it comes to payroll prestige in Toronto, Guerrero runs the bases and the books.Also Read: “He is a machine”: MLB insider breaks down why signing Bo Bichette is best move for Toronto Blue Jays