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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on disappointing 2026 season: 'They didn’t pay me because I’m going to hit 40 every year'

Toronto Blue Jays' highest-paid player opened up about his struggles in an interview with a Dominican TV reporter

Published Sep 23, 2026  •  Last updated 8 hours ago  •  3 minute read

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sits down for an interview on Grandes Ligas. ntelemicro/Instagram

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Struggling franchise cornerstone Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has opened up about his struggles through the 2026 MLB season, but defended his half-billion dollar contract by saying that the team “didn’t pay me because I’m going to hit 40 (home runs) every year.”

In an undated exclusive TV interview with Dominican TV host Veronica Batista, the six-time all-star opened up about his struggles and the expectations that come with his massive $500-million US contract extension, which kicked in this year.

“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, translated from Spanish. “They didn’t pay me because I’m going to hit 40 (home runs) 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.”

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Guerrero added that the fans who continued to support him through his struggles are like “family” to him.

“You know how it is with fans, when you’re good, they’re with you 100%. But when you smell like s***, like we like to say here, nobody supports you.

“The ones who support you are the ones who stay with you. Those are my fans. My family.”

Guerrero’s struggles have been well-documented, with the 27-year-old all-star having the worst season of his career, hitting just one home run at Rogers Centre and nine in total.

The episode is the season premiere of Grandes Ligas and will air on Oct. 4 in the Dominican Republic.

An Instagram post on Wednesday to tease the interview says that Guerrero Jr. admits to dealing with back pain throughout the year — but didn’t want to use it as an excuse.

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“It’s not that serious of an injury,” Guerrero said. “It’s something that one day I wake up fine, one day I wake up with back pain.”

“It’s a bad year, there’s no need to make excuses for the injury, there’s no need to make excuses for the back pain, it’s a bad year.”

Guerrero Jr. also opens up about his relationship with his father, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero.

After the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader in Baltimore – a 4-2 loss which officially eliminated the Jays from playoff contention – Guerrero Jr. was asked about the comments, which have gone viral on social media.

“No, I don’t regret myself. I’m not lying with what I say,” he said, via Mitch Bannon. “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.”

He also added that his huge contract is in the back of his mind each time that he fails at the plate.

“Every at-bat when I fail, I think about my contract because I know all of these people who go to the games, they pay to see me being successful, to do something good every at-bat. Every time I think about that,” he said.

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