Part 3/8:
Critics argue that the Blue Jays missed an opportunity to secure Guerrero's services at a reasonable price. The lack of proactive contract discussions two years prior has been pointed out as a critical misstep by the front office. Teams like the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves have successfully locked up their star talents before similar situations unfolded, avoiding the predicament the Blue Jays now find themselves in.
Adding to this frustration is the lingering resentment from Guerrero over the Blue Jays' manipulation of his service time, which earned the team an additional year of arbitration eligibility at the cost of Guerrero’s free agency timeline.