Blue Jays are handcuffed to underperforming Guerrero for 13 more years

OPINION Blue Jays are handcuffed to underperforming Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for 13 more years CATHAL KELLY PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO Open this photo in gallery: Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. caught the ire of fans with his comments on his US$500-million contract on Wednesday, after his team was eliminated from playoff contention. CHRIS JONES/REUTERS COMMENTS SHARE SAVE FOR LATER Listen to this article Learn more about audio Log in or create a free account to listen to this article. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could have made up a million stories to explain his miserable 2026 season. Sore back; World Series letdown; timing off; beloved cat died. People would have believed anything. Instead, Guerrero chose another way – I don’t owe you anything, but you owe me. Asked in a Spanish-language interview to explain why he’s transformed in the space of a year from Babe Ruth to Mario Mendoza, Guerrero launched into an economics lesson. “I want people to understand one thing. The money [Toronto] 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 [home runs] every year. They paid me for what I already accomplished.” He has a point. Last year, when he ripped it up in the playoffs, Guerrero was paid only US$28,500,000. It’s hardly enough to staff a decent-sized yacht. A rebalancing of the scales was plainly required. Blue Jays eliminated from playoff contention with loss to Orioles So far, his new contract has paid him an additional 40 mil. The Jays owe him another 460. Maybe Edward Rogers should take Guerrero to a lavish dinner, and ask if that will cover it. It is a cherished hope of the middle class that the fantastically rich are miserable and/or deluded. Sadly, the rich, when you meet them, are often uncooperative in proving this thesis. That is, until now. Guerrero is both those things. He spent much of the rest of that interview whining about how nobody thinks he’s any good any more (possibly because he hasn’t been any good). Watching the video of him leaned back in a comfy couch in a hotel suite somewhere, speaking in a tone of grievance, the word that leaps to mind is schmuck. The guy is a schmuck. A talented schmuck, but a schmuck nonetheless. I guess this is what happens when a man hits the cusp of his 30s without ever once having to worry about making rent. He becomes untethered from the lived reality of normal people. His sense of entitlement balloons. We’ve all…