Guerrero’s 2026 Toronto Blue Jays salary tops payrolls of four other MLB teams

Nov 24 2025, 7:28 pm

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is going to be making a boatload of money this coming season and for years beyond.

The 26-year-old superstar agreed to a 14-year, $500-million extension with the Blue Jays this past April. The contract is set to begin this coming season and will continue through the 2039 season.

This coming season will see Guerrero earn a whopping $40.2 million. That is third amongst all MLBers, with only Juan Soto ($61.87 million) and Zack Wheeler ($42 million) earning more.

The fact that the Blue Jays were able to give so much money to Guerrero is a promising sign that the ownership group will continue to spend in order to improve this team. There are many other fan bases throughout the MLB that don’t have the same fortune.

While several teams across the league will make additions via free agency, there are currently four organizations that have less money committed to their entire roster than what Guerrero is set to make next season.

The lowest of the bunch is the Miami Marlins. They have just $22.3 million in total payroll at this time for the 2026 season.

The other three teams with less commitment to their entire roster are the Pittsburgh Pirates ($33.2 million), Baltimore Orioles ($34.7 million), and Chicago White Sox ($38 million). Others, including the Cincinnati Reds ($41.3 million) and Cleveland Guardians ($44.7 million), are just slightly higher in total payroll than Guerrero’s 2026 salary.

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The Jays, meanwhile, rank fifth amongst all MLB teams in terms of salary allocated for the 2026 season at $193 million. The only teams higher are the LA Dodgers ($240 million), New York Mets ($222 million), New York Yankees ($212 million), and Atlanta Braves ($204 million).

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For what it’s worth, the lowest team payroll in 2025 was the Marlins at $67.7 million, while both the Athletics and White Sox came in under $80 million. Nonetheless, it’s quite outstanding to see that the Jays’ superstar first baseman is set to earn more than half of what some teams spent entirely last season.

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While the bottom teams in terms of payroll will go up before the 2026 season begins, the same can be said for the teams on the opposite end. The Jays are included in that bunch, as they have been linked to some of the best players available on the market, including outfielder Kyle Tucker.

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