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Six-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has issued an apology for remarks suggesting his contract rewards past performance rather than future output, a statement he later retracted after counsel from his father, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, to preserve fan goodwill during a disappointing season for the Toronto Blue Jays.
But to prevent the disappoiting season from ending on a bitter note, one which could have lingered into the offseason, the six-time All-Star is apologizing for comments he made to a Spanish-language reporter.
In the interview, Guerrero was defensive about"The money they 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 every year. They paid me for what I already accomplished.
" Guerrero went on to say "real fans" were the ones that supported him even when he has a subpar performance. ).
"When you are doing great, they are 100% behind you, but when you are not at your best, not everybody is behind you, almost nobody supports you. Those are my real fans, the ones that are supporting me all the time.
". "I felt from my heart that my fans and my teammates needed an apology from me. I'm going to continue working hard to make my contract great.
" Either Guerrero realized that what he said was poorly received or someone enlightened him. It appears to have been the latter. The eight-year veteran said that his father, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, told him that he made a mistake.
"He told me what I did was wrong and to make sure that I do what I'm doing right now — to give my fans an apology," he said,. But even if he reaches double-digits to go with his .263/.335/.360 slash line, that is far below the production expected from a former 40-homer slugger who's being paid an average of $35 million per year. The Blue Jays followed up last year's World Series appearance with a losing record.
Depending on how Toronto plays in its final three games, they will finish in either fourth or fifth place in the American League East. If Guerrero hit up to his standards, perhaps the season would have had a different outcome. Yet a fresh start next season would have been more difficult if fans held resentment to the Blue Jays' top player. Obviously, hitting 25 to 30 home runs would turn perception around.
But apologizing could also help win at least some of those supporters back.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Apology Contract Controversy
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