For Vladimir Guerrero Jr., baseball has been much more than just a game—it’s his legacy. He is the son of a Hall of Famer and he knew he had big shoes to fill in. But the best part—he never had to do it alone. Vladimir Guerrero Sr., like a lighthouse, guided him throughout his career. From how to handle the lows to managing the highs to making major decisions—he has been there. And that influence is as strong as ever.
On Guerrero Jr.’s birthday, his father made it clear how much pride he holds for his son’s journey so far.
“Happy birthday to my firstborn! Watching you grow and achieve so much fills my heart with pride. You are a blessing, and I couldn’t be prouder of the person you’re becoming. May this new year bring you even more success and happiness. Love you always!” Often a parent’s support is not much talked about, but it is truly Sr.’s support that shaped Vlad to be the player he is. Guerrero Jr. credits his father for all the success.
But it’s not just that his father taught him to hit a fastball. It’s also the calls of encouragement before and after every game that shaped Vlad to be the player—or rather, person—he is. The 26-year-old said, “To me, we talk every day before and after the game, every day. No matter what, if I go 0 for 4, if I go 4 for 4, no matter what, he always calls me. If I got a bad game, he told me good game. If I got a good game, he told me good game. You know, being here every day is a blessing.” One thing is for sure—Guerrero Sr. doesn’t mince his words. So his words of appreciation for his son mean a lot.
And for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., much of his perspective of the game is also shaped by his dad’s presence. Take, for example, Guerrero Jr.’s stance on the Yankees. He said he would never sign with them because of his father’s near signing in 2003 with the New York Yankees. Also, he had a childhood incident where he was told to leave their dugout. For years he held the grudge but recently told The New York Post, “I’m OK with everything. It’s in the past.” What changed? Well, his father’s advice played a huge role, as he asked him to let go of the past.
This kind of advice isn’t something one can get from a coach or an owner—it’s wisdom and confidence only a father can give. Isn’t that what every athlete—every person—needs? But while the father-son duo share every other thing, there is one thing that Vlad didn’t even share with his dad—his fallout with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. keeps dad out of the Blue Jays drama
The fact right now is the negotiations with the Toronto Blue Jays are going nowhere for Guerrero Jr. So he was asked why he hasn’t turned to his father for some guidance like he does. He said, “Until now, the negotiations have not gotten serious enough for me to sit down and talk to him. Obviously, when I get a little more serious, I will start talking to him.” And this says a lot. He might mean Blue Jays don’t mean business yet. Is he right though?
Now Toronto’s front office is clear—they want to keep Vlad. He is a born Canadian, and even he is willing to stay back. But baseball is business after all, and Ross Atkins is not someone known to spend all that money. This is, after all, the same office that swung and missed on Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Guerrero Jr. knows that just talk is cheap. As per Jon Heyman, Toronto offered him just $500 million, and with deferments, it stands at $400-$450 million. This is a huge number, no doubt. But is it enough?
Guerrero Jr.’s competitors are getting north of $700 million! Vlad knows his worth, and he is 26 years old, so many of his prime years are still left. Plus, one can’t forget that it’s not just money here; Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wants a winning team. Blue Jays haven’t built a team around him that screams confidence to him. Right now, the Yankees and even the Dodgers are in the mix to be interested. And you bet—this is where Vlad will turn to Guerrero Sr. for some fatherly advice.
If you had to guess which team he would end up on, where would you guess? Let us know in the comments.
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