Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s first year under his massive Blue Jays deal has already turned into a talking point, and not the kind Toronto wanted. Through 142 games in 2026, the first baseman is hitting .263/.335/.360 with just nine home runs and 56 RBIs, a start that has quickly put his 14-year, $500 million contract under a bright and unforgiving spotlight.
That rough production is why his recent comments landed so hard. In an interview with Dominican reporter Veronika Batista, Guerrero said the contract was based on what he had already done, not what people expected him to do next.
"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," Guerrero said in Spanish. "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."
That clip made the rounds quickly, and Red Sox analyst Jared Carrabis reacted with a sharp comparison to Pablo Sandoval.
"I love Vladdy. Huge fan since he was in Double-A," Carrabis wrote on X.
"But my stomach dropped when I read this quote. This is exactly how it started with Pablo Sandoval in Boston, only his contract was a third of the years and a fifth of the money.
Awful to think this, even worse to say it."
The Sandoval comparison carries obvious baggage. Sandoval signed a five-year, $95 million deal with Boston before the 2015 season, but injuries and weak offense dragged his time there down before the Red Sox released him in 2017.
Still, Guerrero’s situation isn’t identical. The Blue Jays first baseman was coming off an explosive 2025 season and then a dominant postseason that helped Toronto reach the World Series.
The catch is that 2025 was supposed to be the final year of his previous contract before he could hit free agency. Toronto extended him in April 2025, but the new deal was set to begin in 2026.
Guerrero later said his remarks were being misunderstood and laid out what he meant when he spoke about the contract.
"That was a quote from the interview when she asked me how I felt about this year," Guerrero told reporters. "I said that, obviously, I feel really bad about the year that I had, that I couldn't help my team get to the postseason.
I said I felt - that it's my personal opinion - that every player gets paid for what they have done. With that said, you guys have got to remember that I signed my contract at the beginning of last year, then I did put up a good year.
Then the kind of playoffs that I had to help the team get into the World Series."
Asked whether he stood by the comment, Guerrero didn’t back away from it.
"No, I don't regret myself. I'm not lying with what I say. I understand some fans, they don't understand the way and what I was trying to say specifically, but what I said is the way I feel."
For now, the noise around the quote is only adding to the attention on a season that has fallen well short of the standard attached to that contract.
In Other News...
Red Sox Face A Wild Card Twist That Could Change Everything
With four games left, the Red Sox are still clinging to the second American League Wild Card spot at 85-73, but the margin for error has all but disappeared. Chicago and Cleveland are close enough to keep the standings unsettled, and the path to October may come down to more than just who finishes ahead in the record column.
Thursday nights Red Sox-Guardians matchup suddenly carries a lot more weight because it could shape a three-way tiebreaker scenario if the clubs end up at 85-77. In a race this tight, the standings can turn on one result, and Boston is now staring at a finish where division and Wild Card seeding might have to be sorted out the hard way. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Still Have One Crucial Playoff Seed To Fight For
The Red Sox have already punched their ticket to October, but there is still a meaningful piece of business left before the bracket is set. Boston is trying to lock down the No. 5 seed in the American League, a spot that would send it into the wild-card round with a familiar opponent waiting in the Yankees.
Cleveland adds another layer to the picture, since the Guardians are still chasing the AL Central crown while also trying to secure their own postseason place. The results of Bostons game against Cleveland, along with the rest of the days scoreboard, will sort out the final seeding and division races, leaving the Red Sox with one more lever to pull before the real games begin. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Get A Rafaela Decision After Sudden Injury Scare
The Red Sox got a little breathing room after Wednesdays 1-0 win over Cleveland, but Ceddanne Rafaelas status was worth watching after he dealt with right hamstring tightness. Boston answered the question quickly enough for Thursdays series finale at Fenway Park, keeping Rafaela in the lineup as the club turned the page to a matchup with Ranger Suarez on the mound.
Its a small but meaningful development for a team still trying to stack wins and avoid any added health concerns. The Guardians are sending Daniel Espino into the game, and Bostons official lineup suggests the club expects Rafaela to be available as it tries to keep the momentum going from a tight, low-scoring victory. [Read more 🡒]