DUNEDIN, Fla. >> Vladimir Guerrero Jr. plans to become a free agent after the season following the passing of his deadline Tuesday to reach a long-term agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays.

“Listen, I want to be here. I want to be a Blue Jay for the rest of my career,” the four-time All-Star first baseman said through translator Hector Lebron at Blue Jays camp. “But it’s free agency. It’s business. I’m going to have to listen to 29 more teams and they’re going to have to compete for that.”

Guerrero has a $28.5 million, one-year contract and will be perhaps the top free agent on the market one year after Juan Soto signed a record $765 million, 15-year contract with the New York Mets.

Guerrero, who turns 26 next month, said his last communication with the team came around 10:30 p.m. Monday and the two sides never came close to a deal.

“I have my number all along,” Guerrero said. “I changed it a little bit. I tried, but it still didn’t happen.”

“I know my value,” he added. “I didn’t see the front office moving to my number. It wasn’t the number I was looking for. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.”

Guerrero had said during the offseason he would cut off negotiations when he reported for spring training.

“I don’t want, especially my teammates, to go through any distractions about that,” Guerrero said. “I’m here today and I’m ready. I want to win a lot of games and I want to make it to the playoffs. That’s all that’s in my head right now.”

Guerrero hit .323 last season with a .940 OPS, 30 homers and 103 RBIs.“We’re disappointed we couldn’t get a deal done,” Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said. “When you go into a negotiation, each side has rational for a number. In this case, we couldn’t align on a common number. There’s no such thing as close or not close. There’s done or not done.”

Shapiro maintained the team will not entertain trade offers for Guerrero.

“Our only focus now is winning with Vladdy,” he said.

Guerrero came up through the Toronto system, made his big league debut in 2019 and has a .288 average, .863 OPS, 160 homers and 507 RBs.

“I’ll do anything, everything I have, to stay here with the Blue Jays,” Guerrero said. “I love it here. I want to be here. I’m not thinking about free agency. I won’t be thinking about free agency at all during the season.”

Shapiro, team chairman Edward Rogers and Rogers Communications Inc. CEO Tony Staffieri were involved in the negotiations.

General manager Ross Atkins thinks the team made fair proposals.

“The offers we made for Vlad would have been record-setting and made him one of the highest-paid players in the game,” Atkins said. “We were, in our view, very aggressive.”

Guerrero’s father, Vladimir Guerrero, is a Hall of Famer and nine-time All-Star who was voted the 2004 AL MVP.

Toronto players hope their teammate’s contract situation doesn’t become a constant focus during the season.

“We know, without a doubt, he’s a Blue Jay this year,” pitcher Kevin Gausman said. “I’m sure it could be a distraction, but I’m not too worried about that. I think Vladdy is focused on going out and playing baseball.”

Guerrero appeared to be in good spirits when practice began Tuesday, laughing and smiling with his teammates. As Guerrero was preparing for running drills, a fan from Toronto yelled: “I’d write you a blank check if I had the money.”

Turner agrees to 1-year deal with Cubs>> A person with direct knowledge of the situation says Justin Turner has agreed to a $6 million, one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs. The person confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it was pending a physical.

The veteran infielder can earn an additional $2.5 million in bonuses. The addition of Turner would give the team some security at third base should Matt Shaw need more seasoning in the minors.

The 23-year-old Shaw has been slowed by a left oblique issue in spring training. The 40-year-old Turner also could back up Michael Busch at first base and go into the lineup at designated hitter.

Diamondbacks, SS Perdomo agree to extension>> Slick-fielding shortstop Geraldo Perdomo has agreed to a $45 million, four-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks that begins in 2026. The deal announced Tuesday includes a club option for 2030. Perdomo, who could have become eligible for free agency following the 2027 season, will make $2.55 million this year after being eligible for salary arbitration for the first time.

The 25-year-old was an All-Star in 2023, the same year he helped the Diamondbacks reach the World Series. He missed a big chunk of last season with a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Ohtani throws a 2nd bullpen session>> Shohei Ohtani threw his second bullpen session of spring training on Tuesday. That continued the process of his return to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ohtani had his first bullpen session on Saturday. He hopes to pitch this season for the first time since Aug. 23, 2023, with the Los Angeles Angels.

Ohtani underwent elbow surgery that limited him to hitting only last season with the Dodgers. Ohtani won his third MVP award while becoming the first player to join the 50/50 club with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases as the Dodgers won the World Series.