Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. apologized to fans and teammates Friday for comments he made earlier this week about the 14-year, $500-million contract extension he signed with the team in 2025. Guerrero said he wanted to apologize because he felt his comments did not accurately reflect what he intended to say. “The main reason I’m here (is) because I regret my comments the other day,” Guerrero told reporters through an interpreter. “I really feel that everyone, my fans, everyone deserves an apology from me.” Previously, in widely circulated social media clips, Guerrero had said the massive contract was for what he had already done with the Blue Jays, rather than what he would do for the team in the future. He later doubled down on his comments while speaking to reporters in Baltimore after his team was eliminated from the playoffs. “No, I don’t regret myself. I’m not lying with what I say,” Guerrero said through an interpreter. The first baseman said he had reflected on those comments and did not want to make excuses. “I’m very disappointed about my year,” he said, adding that he cannot control how his comments will be received. “I can’t control that ... what I can control is what I’m doing right now, here, giving my fans my apologies.” Guerrero said even his father, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr., told him that his comments were a mistake. “About the comments from the other day, he basically told me that what I did was wrong and to make sure that I’m here,” he said. The all-star struggled offensively this season, hitting only nine home runs. Guerrero only has one homer at Rogers Centre as of Friday. The Blue Jays, after a season in which they came close to winning the World Series, are currently last in the American League East with three games left in the regular season. Guerrero Jr. says his focus now turns to the off-season. “I need some rest, mentally (and) physically,” Guerrero said. “Then back to work, and then just stay focused, work very hard in the off-season, and then come back strong next year.” Blue Jays manager John Schneider commended his player for clearing the air. “My conversations with him are just like, okay, what do you learn from this going forward? And understanding who you are and what you mean to the team,” Schneider told reporters. “I know him very well, and I think what was said probably taken out of context a little bit. That happens, I get it. But just being pretty deliberate with what he’s saying going forward was kind of what we talked about.” Schneider added that he is not worried about Guerrero, who he believes is focused on “making this contract a good one.” When asked what Guerrero told his teammates, the manager won’t share the details, as that’s between the players. “Guys know what he’s all about in the clubhouse, so I think just for them to hear it from him was a good thing, but it wasn’t a surprise to anyone,” Schneider said.
