Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says $500 million deal on his mind ‘every at-bat I fail’

BALTIMORE — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. isn’t afraid to admit it: His 14-year, $500 million contract absolutely weighed on him during this, his most unproductive season of his decorated career.

Guerrero signed that megadeal in March 2025 and then drove the Toronto Blue Jays all the way to Game 7 of the World Series with a fantastic postseason. Yet he followed that with the worst season of his career, most notably failing to hit a home run in his own ballpark until the 75th home game of the season.

After the Blue Jays were officially eliminated from 2026 contention with a 4-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, Sept. 23, Guerrero came clean: Every weak grounder, every strikeout, every Blue Jays loss weighed significantly on him.

As did the notion of living up to his contract.

“I’ve got to be honest with you: Of course. Every at-bat that I fail, I think about my contract,” Guerrero said via club interpreter Hector Lebron between games of a split doubleheader at Camden Yards. “I know all the people who go to (Rogers Centre), they pay to see me being successful, to do something good every at-bat.

“Every time, I think about my…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/