Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Brushes Off Abysmal Season With Wild Claims

The Toronto Blue Jays were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Wednesday afternoon. Their extremely disappointing season can, more or less, be summed up in two words (well, two and a half): Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 

The $500 Million Dollar Man massively underperformed in the first year of that 14-year extension, with only nine home runs and a .695 OPS. But while he's disappointed and frustrated with his season, he gave a stunning comment to a Spanish-language outlet about his contract: 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opens up on his slump year:

“I want people to understand one thing. The money they gave me wasn’t for what I’m going to do. It was for what I already did. They didn’t pay me because I’m going to hit 40 every year. They paid me for what I already… pic.twitter.com/dLl7LzYoAr

— Punchoutpitch (@Punchoutpitch) September 23, 2026

“I want people to understand one thing. The money they gave me wasn’t for what I’m going to do. It was for what I already did. They didn’t pay me because I’m going to hit 40 (bombs) every year. They paid me for what I already accomplished."

Hmm. If you asked Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins, not to mention team ownership, it's doubtful they'd tell you that. Before they signed Guerrero to that deal in early 2025, he had a career that featured several very good 30-HR seasons, and one sensational superstar season (in which he finished 2nd in MVP balloting).  But zero postseason wins for the team. Not a one. Is all of that what the Jays paid half a billion dollars for? 

And does that mean he doesn't plan on repeating what he "already accomplished"?

Granted, Vladdy did have a superhuman playoff run in 2025 (with the contract already having been signed), and the Jays were within inches of winning a World Series. 

Guerrero doubles down when asked about wild contract claims

When asked later if he regretted those comments, he didn't back down.

When Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was asked if he regrets his comments (by @MitchBannon):

"No, I don't regret myself. I'm not lying with what I say. I understand some fans, they don't understant the way and what I was trying to say specifically, but what I said is the way I feel."

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) September 23, 2026

"No, I don't regret myself. I'm not lying with what I say. I understand some fans, they don't understant the way and what I was trying to say specifically, but what I said is the way I feel."

13 more seasons to go on that deal.