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MLB stars react to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. uproar: 'This is not him at his best'

The emergence of Guerrero's ill-timed (and let's face it, confusing) comments on the day the Jays were eliminated from playoff contention only added fuel to the firestorm.

Published Sep 24, 2026  •  Last updated 1 hour ago  •  3 minute read

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays walks to the dugout during the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on September 18, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Stacy Revere /Getty Images

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is taking heat from former MLB stars such as Joey Votto, Vernon Wells and Josh Donaldson after controversial comments about living up to his contract created an outcry around the game on Wednesday.

The emergence of Guerrero’s ill-timed (and let’s face it, confusing) comments on the day the Jays were eliminated from playoff contention only added fuel to the firestorm.

Canadian Joey Votto, a six-time All-Star with the Cincinnati Reds, dismissed the idea that Guerrero’s comments were misinterpreted. The fact that he doubled down on the opinion that first appeared in a Spanish-language podcast when speaking with reporters in Baltimore furthered that view.

“Lost in translation? Let’s not do that,” Votto wrote on X on Wednesday evening, hours after the controversy erupted.

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“Vladdy did earn his contract. He’s a young superstar whose going to have a fantastic career and retire as a Blue Jay and HOF player like his dad.

“That said, that has said silly things in my past, this is not him at his best.”

Former Blue Jay Vernon Wells, who knows a thing or two about the burden of being the franchise’s highest-paid player and the pressure that can come with it, offered his own interpretation.

“I heard Vlad Jr comments. You get paid for what you’ve done up to that point BUT with the exception that that will continue with some natural ups and downs,” Wells wrote on X. “I didn’t take his comments to mean he doesn’t care and doesn’t want to be better than he was last year.”

Wells, who signed a then franchise-record seven-year, $126 million contract extension with the Jays in 2006, believes the intent of Guerrero’s comments were lost in vagueness.

“I just don’t think he articulated it very well,” Wells continued on his X post. “I think he battled a lot this year including being banged up, the pressure to living up to his contract, which is nearly impossible.

“But I think with this year behind him, he will learn and be better because of it.”

The crux of the controversy is whether Guerrero is overpaid. Somewhat unwittingly, Guerrero made the exorbitant 14-year, $500 million US the flashpoint for this miserable Jays season.

The fact that Guerrero has just nine home runs is a huge reason the Jays have the worst offence in Major League Baseball, a benign attack that has them back in last place in the American League East.

While not talking specifically talking about Guerrero’s recent comments, former Blue Jays star third baseman Josh Donaldson was pointed in his comments.

Speaking on the appropriately named Get It Done League, a terrific podcast hosted by former Sportsnet Blue Jays reporter Arash Madani, he asserted that Guerrero is overpaid.

“I think his expectations are too high,” Donaldson said. “I don’t think he’s a $500 million player.”

Former New York Mets GM and current TSN analyst Steve Phillips had no sympathy for Guerrero’s comments, especially in light of his underperforming season.

In particular, Phillips chastised Guerrero’s assertion that he was paid for what he’s done in the past.

“I’m not paying him or what he’s done,” Phillips said on TSN Radio’s First Up program on Thursday morning. “I’m paying him to live up to expectations of the contract I’m going to give him. I’m not rewarding him for that past performance.

“You have the responsibility when you have a $500 million contract to live up to that. Honestly, if I knew a player had that mindset when I was considering him, I don’t think I would extend him that offer.”

Phillips also ripped Guerrero for playing the victim card with his comments about being booed by fans.

“Then perform better,” Phillips said. “That’s just fans reacting to things. He did not read the room very well. That’s one where (his) agent and (Blue Jays) staff have to prepare a player to clean up the mess.”

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