Guerrero doubles down on contract comments: 'What I said is the way I feel' — SkimNews
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- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. told Spanish-language reporter Veronica Batista that his April 2025 extension was for 'what I already accomplished,' adding that even he tells himself 'they gave you all that money and you're out here doing nothing.'
- Guerrero stood by the comments through an interpreter after Toronto's elimination, saying, 'What I said is the way I feel,' and that he doesn't regret speaking.
- Guerrero is slashing .263 with 9 home runs and 56 RBIs in 142 games, one of his worst seasons, per the source.
- Blue Jays manager John Schneider called the comments' timing 'unfortunate' but defended Guerrero as a hard worker who 'is by no means just saying, OK, I got paid and I'm good with that.'
- Schneider said Guerrero will work to 'have a better year than he did personally this year' and be 'the guy we saw a lot last year in the postseason who helped get us to the World Series.'
- The 14-year, $500 million deal runs from 2026 through 2039, locking in Guerrero as Toronto's franchise first baseman for the rest of his prime.
- Guerrero dismissed fans who abandoned him during his slump, calling the ones who stayed 'my real fans' and 'family.'
Why it matters: A $500 million commitment through 2039 means every Guerrero slump will be replayed against this quote, and his refusal to soften it ensures the storyline doesn't fade. Schneider's public defense signals the club is choosing to back the player over the narrative, buying Guerrero runway to rehabilitate his numbers in 2026.
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