Vladimir Guerrero Jr. didn’t have a good 2026 season for the Toronto Blue Jays.
But to prevent the disappoiting season from ending on a bitter note, one which could have lingered into the offseason, the six-time All-Star is apologizing for comments he made to a Spanish-language reporter. In the interview, Guerrero was defensive about the 14-year, $500 million contract extension he signed last year and whether or not he’s fulfilling the expectations that blockbuster deal established.
“The money they gave me wasn’t for what I’m going to do. It was for what I already did.,”Guerrero said in an interview with Veronica Batista of Noticias Telemicro (via MLB.com). “They didn’t pay me because I’m going to hit 40 every year. They paid me for what I already accomplished.”
“ME PAGARON POR LO QUE YA HICE”
El dominicano Vladimir Guerrero Jr. encendió la polémica al declarar que los 500 millones de dólares por 14 temporadas que los Azulejos de Toronto le dieron de contrato fue por lo que ya había producido en su carrera, no por lo que estaba por… pic.twitter.com/zdtgAtidE1
— Beisbolpuro (@Beisbolpuro) September 23, 2026
Guerrero went on to say “real fans” were the ones that supported him even when he has a subpar performance.
“The fans, I know how they are,” he added (translated by reporter Héctor Gómez). “When you are doing great, they are 100% behind you, but when you are not at your best, not everybody is behind you, almost nobody supports you. Those are my real fans, the ones that are supporting me all the time.”
The Blue Jays first baseman followed up by saying he didn’t regret those statements. As could be expected, fans didn’t receive those remarks well. That led to him apologizing on Friday.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says that he spoke to his father, who told him that he’d made a mistake and needed to do this (apologize):
“I feel that the comments I made the other day is not what I really wanted to say. Everyone deserves an apology from me.” #BlueJays
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) September 25, 2026
“I regret my comments the other day,” Guerrero Jr. told reporters through an interpreter, via SportsNet. “I felt from my heart that my fans and my teammates needed an apology from me. I’m going to continue working hard to make my contract great.”
Either Guerrero realized that what he said was poorly received or someone enlightened him. It appears to have been the latter. The eight-year veteran said that his father, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, told him that he made a mistake.
“He told me what I did was wrong and to make sure that I do what I’m doing right now — to give my fans an apology,” he said, via SportsNet.
Guerrero has only 9 home runs, going into this weekend’s final three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. But even if he reaches double-digits to go with his .263/.335/.360 slash line, that is far below the production expected from a former 40-homer slugger who’s being paid an average of $35 million per year.
The Blue Jays followed up last year’s World Series appearance with a losing record. Depending on how Toronto plays in its final three games, they will finish in either fourth or fifth place in the American League East. If Guerrero hit up to his standards, perhaps the season would have had a different outcome.
Yet a fresh start next season would have been more difficult if fans held resentment to the Blue Jays’ top player. Obviously, hitting 25 to 30 home runs would turn perception around. But apologizing could also help win at least some of those supporters back.
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