Blue Jays need Vladimir Guerrero Jr. healthy more than they need him at the All-Star game

It's obvious to every Blue Jays fan that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is having a miserable 2026 season. It's not the Vladdy the Toronto Blue Jays or their fans wanted to see after a World Series run. Only four home runs by July, and none of those at home? It's a massive concern.

That's the reality both player and franchise are facing. With the season looking more and more grim as the days go by, the lack of production from Vladdy doesn't do anybody any favors.

However, by the power of democracy, Guerrero Jr. was selected as the starting first baseman for the 2026 All-Star Game in Philadelphia on July 14. As confused as everybody was about Guerrero Jr. being voted in by the fans, his decision regarding the All-Star Game ended up being the right one.

Getting healthy is the priority, and Vladdy made sure that was the case

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., elected to start at 1B for the AL, said he won't be going to ASG to recuperate over the break. He's been playing through lower back issues for nearly a month.

He said he's very grateful to fans who voted for him and that's "one of the hardest parts of not… https://t.co/fX5mws2DbB
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) July 5, 2026

Just moments after the All-Star Game starters were revealed, Vladdy told the media he decided not to participate in the festivities to rest his lower back, which has been bugging him for the past month.

"I'm very grateful for everybody who voted for me. But, at this time, respectfully, I'm declining to go [to the All-Star Game]," said Guerrero Jr. "I decided to rest and to prepare myself for the second half of the season." The decision was premeditated, as Vladdy also noted that he decided a week before the All-Star voting results that he would not go to Philadelphia.

Vladdy electing to skip the All-Star break and rest is the right call, especially given concerns about his lower back over the last month. Should the Blue Jays have considered placing him on the injured reserve list? Absolutely.

His last ten games are also proof that rest is needed (injury or not), as he has a .162 batting average, an OPS of .460, three RBIs, and no home runs (the last coming Jun. 18). It's ultimately a small sample size of his 2026 season so far.

Regardless, it's a responsible decision not to play in the All-Star Game, one that was quickly welcomed by Blue Jays fans after they were surprised to see him get the All-Star nod. After all, Vladdy is known to break out in the second half of the season.

In 2025, before the All-Star break, Vladdy slashed .277/.384/.434 with an OPS of .818. Following the break, those numbers lifted to .314/.376/.515 and an OPS of .891. In 2024, the slash line before the break was .289/.360/.457 and an OPS of .818. After? It was .376/.450/.678 and a whopping OPS of 1.127.

Is it the rush of a playoff push that motivates Vladdy to pop off in the second half? Potentially. In recent years, the second half of Guerrero Jr.'s season has usually been welcomed with open arms, especially in 2025. Now in 2026, it's a necessity and a desperate need for the Blue Jays to be part of the Wild Card round.

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Getting healthy is the priority, and Vladdy made sure that was the case

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