The Toronto Blue Jays are always chasing the next great hope, but hope can be dangerous at times. Over the past two years, they have chased Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto and Roki Sasaki, and each defeat has brought with it a different regret. However, the loss of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will make these regrets seem insignificant.

Fans had fantasized about those players joining, but they have fallen in love with the real-life Guerrero Jr. Guerrero is talented, his game is full of passion, and he shows the demeanor of a true performer. The young star not only loves Toronto, but also wants to dedicate his entire career to the city. Losing him would not just be heartbreaking, but completely destroying the hearts of the fans.

Tuesday's training camp in Dundee wasn't goodbye, but Guerrero was already standing in the doorway, boots and coat on. It was a door he still wouldn't step through.

"I want to stay here, and I want to play for the Blue Jays for the rest of my career," Guerreiro said through a team interpreter, reiterating his stance over the years. "But it's a free market, it's business. I have to listen to the offers of the other 29 teams. ”

If there's hope — and for a beloved player like Guerreiro, that has to be there — then it's going to exist in free agency. The next great hope for the Blue Jays, albeit suddenly and strangely, could be Aaron Judge.

In 2022, Judge turned down a seven-year, $213.5 million contract extension from the Yankees as he entered the final year of his contract, sparking a lot of media attention for the New York superstar. Judge responded with 62 home runs, an OPS of 1.111 and an American League MVP trophy. Despite his entry into the free market, the Yankees are still aggressively striving for it. Eventually, Judge signed a nine-year, $360 million contract with the Yankees, becoming a lifelong player for the Yankees.

This is the only playbook that the Blue Jays can draw on at the moment.

"Personally, I'm disappointed because I recognize that it's very special when a player goes from signing, developing to the big leagues, and playing for a team throughout their career," said Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro. "I think of players like Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken Jr. and Kirby Puckett who became legends and symbols of the team. That's what we've always expected from Guerrero Jr. ”

Of course, there are other examples, such as Aaron Nola, Carlos Correa, J.T. Rylmutto. Realmuto) and Stephen Strasburg. However, free-market contracts are changing rapidly, with Shohei Ohtani and Soto's contracts pushing spending to unprecedented heights. If Guerrero erupts in a contract year like Judge, the Blue Jays face a rising number.

While the market could be part of this process, there are two key details missing at the moment: Guerrero's asking price and the Blue Jays' offer. Without these, we can't judge who is more reasonable or how "close" the parties are. Offers from other teams may help determine Guerrero's value, which could bring the numbers closer to the Blue Jays or may push them further.

What we do know is that Guerrero wants to stay here and the Blue Jays have shown their financial potential in their recent chase. Guerrero loves Toronto, but beyond that, he has only one goal.

"The winning team. That's what I'm looking for in the free market," Guerrero said. "As you know, my dad played for many years, but he never won a World Series. My personal goal is to win the World Series and dedicate the ring to my father. That's what I'm after. ”

While there is still hope, Blue Jays fans don't want to rely on hope at this moment. Hope is dangerous, especially when the other 29 teams begin to feel the same hope.