Red Sox legend David Ortiz defended Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after backlash over his comments on his 14-year, $500 million extension, saying Guerrero had misspoken, a mediocre season can happen to anyone and Ortiz is still betting on him.
Guerrero’s remarks came shortly before Toronto was mathematically eliminated. According to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson, Guerrero said he was being paid for what he had done for the Blue Jays in the past, rather than what he was expected to do in the future.
Guerrero entered 2026 with high expectations after his 2025 postseason helped Toronto reach the World Series. In the final stretch of the 2026 season, he had nine home runs and an OPS below .700.
