For Vlad Jr., what a difference a year -- and a World Series appearance -- makes

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- This doesn’t start until Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says it does.

Guerrero is the sun. He is the biggest and the brightest, the force everything and everyone else orbits around. There’s no doubt of that now, but a year ago, there was.

One year and 20 hours ago, Guerrero strolled out of the Blue Jays’ clubhouse doors at 8:01 a.m. on the first day of full-squad workouts and took the air out of the atmosphere with one word. “No,” he had not agreed to a contract extension with the Blue Jays before his deadline, and it felt like this would all come crashing down in a slow, painful mess. On Monday, he leaned on a wall, 20 feet away, grinning as manager John Schneider praised the leadership and growth of the young man he’s known since he was a teenage prodigy.

“It comes with the contract,” Schneider said. “That’s an obvious thing, right? He’s here for 14 more years and he’s the face of the franchise.”

Guerrero’s deadline a year ago wasn’t real, of course. That 14-year, $500 million deal cemented him as the centre of the Blue Jays’ universe. By the time it’s done, he’ll surely be the single most important person in the history of this organization. That contract and his October heroics behind him now, Guerrero is in a dream position. He’s been paid, he’s entering his prime and he’s playing for an organization dedicated to spending -- and winning -- around him.

For the first time, though, Guerrero will move forward without Bo Bichette, his teammate and close friend since the two were still boys, climbing up through the Minor Leagues together as the future faces of the Blue Jays. This is new to him, Schneider says, but it can be good for Guerrero.

“If anything, it allows Vlad to have a louder voice and be more free,” Schneider said. “When you get so locked in with somebody day to day for eight or 10 years, you have that as a norm. I think this is an opportunity for Vlad to have a louder voice and understand that this has been his team, and it’s going to continue to be his team.”

Guerrero isn’t as bold when he speaks, but that’s by design. He prefers to call himself a good teammate, not a “leader” in the classic sense. One just leads naturally to the other. Year after year, spring after spring, Guerrero’s voice has grown louder. He’s gone from a quiet participant in drills to an emerging leader and, eventually, the one whose voice bellows out above all others insisting that they do it again, and do it better this time.

Guerrero’s first comments of the spring felt so light this time. Past years have brought opening questions about his fitness, about the past season’s failures and about his contract. All of that’s gone now.

“We acquired new players, great players. I think this is going to be more fun,” Guerrero said through a club interpreter. “I’m actually happier than last year. For whatever reason, I’m happier and feeling great. I have good feelings about this year, and I know we’re capable of doing a lot of good things.”

Guerrero is feeling happier in camp after signing his $500 million deal. Perhaps the two are related.

As a player, Guerrero’s job is to punish opposing pitchers and play great defense. His 2025 regular season was just “good,” but his postseason run showed us one of the greatest hitters on the planet, someone in full control of his gifts.

As a leader, Guerrero needs to push the Blue Jays forward. This spring cannot be a parade celebrating an appearance in the World Series. When the clubhouse doors closed at 8:25 a.m. Monday morning and Schneider addressed the team for the first time, that was the message.

“We’re not defending anything,” Schneider said. “We’re not defending the AL East. We’re not defending the American League. We’re attacking 2026 like we did ’25. We’re trying to win the division. We’re trying to win the World Series.”

Those are the most important words you’ll hear the manager say all spring. It’s up to Guerrero to embody that. It’s up to Guerrero to push this group forward. Late in the World Series against the Dodgers, Guerrero walked the Blue Jays’ dugout and told his teammates, “If you’re nervous, look at me.”

He is who the Blue Jays will look to again. He always has been, and now, he always will be.