Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is having a brutal 2026 season, which is just about the worst timing imaginable considering he’s in the first year of a massive 14-year, $500 million deal. The Blue Jays slugger, who led his team to the World Series just last year, is putting up numbers that make you scratch your head, and his recent comments about his contract only poured gasoline on the fire.
Vladdy’s Numbers Are Not What They Paid For
Let’s be real, his performance this year is just not cutting it for a guy on a half-billion-dollar contract. Over 140 games, Guerrero has only nine home runs and a dismal .695 OPS. That’s on track to be a career-low in an 162-game season, which is wild for a player of his caliber. Just last year, he hammered 23 dingers with an .848 OPS. Even those strong 2025 numbers weren’t among the best of his career! Before he inked that giant deal in March 2025, when he was just 26 years old, he had a monster 2024 season with 30 home runs and a .940 OPS, his second-highest mark ever. The Blue Jays definitely thought they were locking up his absolute prime years, expecting consistent MVP-level production. Instead, fans are watching this deal potentially age like milk based on this year’s output alone. It’s a huge commitment, and after a season like this, it’s tough to swallow, especially when you’re shelling out that kind of cash.
“Not Necessarily For What I’m Going To Do”
Here’s where things got spicy. In an interview with Telemicro News, Vladdy defended his contract by straight-up saying the Blue Jays paid him for what he *already did*. He was quoted saying, “The contract I got was based on what I did, not necessarily for what I’m going to do.” Can you believe that? He even admitted, “Sometimes I think that way too, like ‘oh they give me this money and I’m not doing enough,’ but you know I try my best and I’m working hard.” He also dropped some truth bombs about fan support, acknowledging it’s conditional. “When you are doing great they are 100 percent 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.” When he was asked about these comments after a game, he doubled down, saying, “No, I don’t regret myself. I’m not lying with what I say.” That’s a bold stance for a struggling superstar.
The Apology Tour After Talking With Dad
But hold up, the story doesn’t end there. Just a few days later, after apparently chatting with his father, Guerrero walked back his comments. “I feel that the comments I made the other day is not what I really wanted to say,” he stated, adding, “Everyone deserves an apology from me.” So, he said what he felt, then felt he needed to apologize. It’s a whole rollercoaster, right? What this means is that Vladdy enters next MLB season with a ton to prove. He needs to show those Blue Jays fans, the ones who “always support him,” that he’s still the player they thought they were signing to that gargantuan deal. The pressure is on, big time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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