Nearly a year and a half ago, Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. said he would never sign for one of his team's archrivals.
The Hall of Famer's son said he would never reach an agreement to play for the New York Yankees, “not even [when I’m] dead.”
A few months later, he reiterated his stance and said it was “a personal thing” that “goes back to my family.”
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Red Sox during the seventh inning at Fenway Park on June 24, 2024 in Boston. (Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
But with the Blue Jays struggling and the trade deadline approaching, it appears the three-time All-Star has changed his mind.
“I'm a worker, a professional, and I go out on the field and play… Sometimes you say things. It's not that I'm trying to take back what I said about the Yankees, what am I saying? No “I don't keep what I said about the Yankees, but this is a business,” Guerrero told Spanish-speaking media on Monday at Fenway Park in Boston. “I sat down and talked to my dad and my family, and this is a business… Like I tell you, I'm a player, and if a team picks me or if they do something, it's because they need it.” Obviously, and I'll be happy to help any team, but right now I'm just focused on helping my team try to get out of this bad situation. streak”.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning against the Mariners in Seattle on July 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Caean Couto)
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It is not known what instance Vlad Jr. was referring to about his “family,” but it seems obvious that it has to do with his father, who played for the Expos, Angels, Rangers and Orioles.
Guerrero and other members of the Blue Jays have a clear disdain for the Yankees. At a fan fest ahead of the 2023 season, Guerrero said the Yankees were the “easiest” team to play with last season; New York had won 99 games and the division.
Meanwhile, in 2022, Alek Manoah once called Gerrit Cole the biggest cheater in baseball due to his involvement with sticky things; Manoah spent time in the minor leagues last season, while Cole won the American League Cy Young Award after a drug bust.
The Yankees could certainly use a guy like Guerrero. Yankees first basemen have combined to hit .236 with a .644 OPS, the latter of which is the sixth-worst mark in baseball. Those numbers include Anthony Rizzo, who struggled before going down with a broken arm.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays points to fans before a game against the New York Yankees at Rogers Center in Toronto on May 16, 2023. (Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
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Despite falling since his runner-up MVP finish in 2021, he's still hitting .286 with a .796 OPS this season, which would be a huge improvement.
The Blue Jays are 35-43, last in the AL East, so perhaps they could make a lot of moves before the deadline.
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