Mariners fans get bad news in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. free agency update

The Seattle Mariners were active at the trade deadline last year, acquiring Randy Arozarena and Justin Turner to reinforce the lineup. While both ended up being great moves, there was speculation of another possible trade with the Toronto Blue Jays that would have brought Vladimir Guerrero Jr., their star first baseman, to Seattle.

A deal ultimately never materialized, but that hasn't stopped fans from wanting the team to make a real pursuit of the four-time All-Star. Yet with his free agency coming after 2025, it seems that the Mariners will have a little more competition than they originally thought.

There have been two major storylines that have followed Guerrero's upcoming opportunity to explore the open market. Toronto fans obviously wanted him to receive an extension, but it doesn't look like there's a good chance of that happening.

New York Yankees fans have also wanted him as a first base option given their lack of depth in the position. But given his role as a divisional rival for the duration of his major-league career, he previously expressed opposition to the idea of playing in the Bronx, citing a personal vendetta with the organization reminiscent of Ken Griffey Jr.'s own feelings towards the club.

But unlike Griffey, it seems that Guerrero is willing to let bygones be bygones, more recently telling Jon Heyman of the New York Post that he's willing to give every team a shot to sign him.

It's already unlikely that Seattle will be competitive for Guerrero, given his most recent numbers as well as relatively weak free agent market heading into next year. Him giving a big-spending team like the Yankees a seat at the table will only increase an already exorbitant price tag. CBS Sports has already predicted that he'll receive a 12-year, $456 million contract, a deal that would nearly double Robinson Canó's $240 million contract that holds the Mariners' franchise record.

Even that prediction may sell Guerrero short. In a Bleacher Report livestream on Wednesday, Heyman mused that the 25-year-old's real asking price is "probably $600 million, plus."

Signing marquee free agents with nine-figure asking prices hasn't been Seattle's strong suit in the past few years. Still, the team has found a way to make it work and is projected to be a close competitor for the AL West in 2025. They're projected by FanGraphs to be tied with the Houston Astros and just one game behind the Texas Rangers.

The organization has found success in maximizing value per dollar spent and, while it may be a frustrating offseason experience year in and year out, it has prevented the need for roster teardowns and rebuilds. Yet because this strategy has yet to result in any sort of recurring postseason success, a loosening of the purse strings may soon be called for.