Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said his contract is tied to what he has already done and he acknowledged the team’s failure to reach the postseason after elimination.
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. discussed the pressure he has felt this season as the Toronto Blue Jays struggled and ultimately missed the playoffs, including criticism from fans that intensified after recent results.
In an interview with Dominican Republic broadcaster Telemicro, the 27-year-old said he does not believe the size of his contract extension is based on his future performance with the Blue Jays, but rather on what he has already accomplished. He said the deal was “based on what I did,” while also adding that he understands why fans think otherwise.
Guerrero said he has continued to work hard despite the scrutiny. He described a contrast between how fans respond during strong stretches and how support drops when a player is not performing at his best, saying that “almost nobody supports you” when things are not going well.
The remarks came after the Blue Jays were eliminated from postseason contention with a 4-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. In the interview, Guerrero responded when asked about what he said following the loss, taking accountability by acknowledging he could not help his team reach the postseason.
He said he “felt really bad” about his season and pointed to the concept that players are paid for what they have done. Guerrero also referenced the timing of his extension, stating that he signed it at the beginning of last year after putting up a strong season, including a postseason performance that helped Toronto reach the World Series.
Guerrero said he is going to prepare in the offseason “to do the best I can physically, mentally, everything” as he has done previously for his teammates. The interview framed his response as both a reaction to the season’s outcomes and a reaffirmation of his approach heading into the next phase of the year.
This season has presented measurable challenges at the plate for the Blue Jays’ star. He has hit nine home runs in 2026, which the report says is his lowest total of his eight-year major league career outside of the shortened 2020 season.
The interview also comes after an early-season home run drought at Rogers Centre. The report says Guerrero went the first five months of the year without a home run there, which led to “loud boos” from fans, and he addressed that atmosphere directly in the discussion.
Guerrero has been among Toronto’s key power hitters in prior years. Over eight seasons with the franchise, the report says he has led the team in home runs in four of those eight seasons and helped Toronto reach the postseason on four occasions.
His contract extension, which the report describes as a 14-year, $500 million deal, is also central to the scrutiny around his current production. The report frames the current down year as the first season of that extension.
The team’s struggles have extended beyond Guerrero’s individual numbers. The report says the Blue Jays rank last in MLB in home runs and second-last in runs scored, underscoring that the offence has not produced enough to overcome the season’s challenges.
Less than 12 months before this season’s disappointment, Guerrero was named ALCS MVP for his role during Toronto’s run to its first World Series in 32 years, a contrast that has shaped the expectations surrounding his performance in 2026.
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