Third-base Vladdy? Occasional hot-corner start could open doors in '25

TORONTO -- The Blue Jays are keeping the door cracked open to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. playing third base, the position he’s loved, lost and has finally come back to.

Friday’s 4-3 walk-off win over the Cardinals, with Alejandro Kirk playing the hero in the bottom of the 11th, was Guerrero’s 10th start at third base this season. The Blue Jays don’t need him to be Brooks Robinson out there, they just need him to be competent. Think of Vladdy’s defense at the hot corner like a kicker in the NFL: If we’re not talking about it after the game, that’s a good thing.

Since coming up through the Minor Leagues and debuting at third in 2019, Guerrero has rebranded as a first baseman, winning a Gold Glove in 2022. For years, we’ve been teased with the idea, but it’s starting to feel like this could be a real option for the organization again. First base will remain Guerrero’s primary home, but if he can be trusted at third base once or twice a week next season, some other doors will start to swing open.

Friday was a defensive masterclass from Guerrero at both corners. After making a sharp play at third earlier in the game, Vladdy shifted across the diamond in the late innings and made two dazzling plays in the ninth and 10th, stubbornly refusing to let the game slip away.

“The plays at first were really impressive,” manager John Schneider said. “One was basically behind him off [Nolan] Arenado. The plays, the throws, he was kind of all over the place. He’s good. He’s really taken to his craft at first base and he does things not a lot of first basemen can do. He was on full display.”

At this point it's all about 2025, Guerrero’s final year of club control in Toronto. He’s such a unique, dynamic defender at first, but his share of third-base reps going into 2025 is getting more interesting down the stretch.

When and why?
This is about offense, period. That comes with sacrifices, and there’s nothing complicated about the equation. If Guerrero playing third can get a big bat into the lineup at first without tanking the defense, it’s worth considering. It sounds like we’ll get a few looks at this down the stretch.

“There definitely could be a time where he’s playing a few in a row down the stretch,” Schneider said.

If the Blue Jays have a shot at a marquee corner infielder this offseason, that changes the math quickly, but you can see the logic even with some current players. Take Spencer Horwitz as an example. Horwitz crushes right-handed pitching, so if there’s a day the Blue Jays are facing a righty and their own pitcher doesn’t give up a ton of ground balls to the left side -- which protects Guerrero -- then there’s a way to pull this off effectively.

It doesn’t need to last all nine innings, either. The Blue Jays can shift their defense to fit the situation, and if Guerrero has some flexibility, it’s easier for everyone. Schneider highlighted balls Guerrero needs to come in on and backhanded plays to his right side as the most challenging for him. Those gave him plenty of trouble in 2019, too, but lining him up with the right pitchers could limit his exposure over the course of a full season.

The big picture
Would you rather enter free agency as a first baseman … or as a player who can handle both corners? It’s easy.

If Guerrero chooses to enter free agency, which has to be an extremely attractive option for a player of his age and caliber, keeping third base on the table can only help him. If he plays it competently, even for 30 games next season, that could be valuable.

“I signed as a third baseman, so it is my favorite position,” Guerrero said through a club interpreter back in June, when he made his first start at third base since 2019. “But I’m the kind of person and player who thinks that if you can play both corners, first and third the right way, that will give your manager and your team more options. Regardless of if third is my favorite position, I’ll be prepared. First or third, wherever the team needs me.”

It’s surprising to even be at this point again, but Guerrero has changed so many of the conversations around him with this incredible season. He’s still a first baseman, but the longer this door stays cracked open, the more interesting it gets.