yahoo
As the Toronto Blue Jays close out a lackluster season and miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year, the spotlight has remained fixed on first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and his lucrative contract. Guerrero recently made headlines with remarks about his 14-year, $500 million extension that drew criticism from many in the baseball community, prompting him to issue a public apology.
In an interview earlier this week with Dominican broadcaster Veronica Batista, Guerrero was asked about his extension amid a subpar 2026 campaign. He responded by saying, “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 accomplished. People are confused about that, but I think the same way they do. Like, sometimes I even say to myself: bro, they gave you all that money, and you’re out here doing nothing. I try.”
Guerrero initially stood by his comments when speaking to the media on Wednesday, but by Friday he had changed his stance, expressing regret for his words. “I regret my comments the other day. 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,” he said.
The 27-year-old has faced a challenging season, batting .263 with nine home runs and 56 RBIs in 142 games. He also revealed that his father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., told him his comments were wrong and urged him to apologize.
Looking ahead, Guerrero aims to move past the incident and focus on improving for the 2027 season.
Originally reported by yahoo.