Blue Jays’ future still hinges on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. even after disastrous 2026 season

There isn’t much left to be said about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s abysmal 2026 season. Whether it was because of the pressure, a balky back, or something else entirely, the $500-million man crumbled in his first season without a true co-star in the lineup. 

With just a few games left to play, Guerrero has established new career lows across the board offensively. It took him until September 13th to hit a home run at the Rogers Centre—a feat for which he non-ironically received a standing ovation.

So, now what? That’s the question worth asking for Guerrero and the Blue Jays with this season turning out to be a massive disappointment for everyone involved. The focus will now shift onto ensuring another year like this one doesn’t happen again anytime soon. 

Yet, as important as it will be for general manager Ross Atkins to have another great offseason, none of it will really matter unless Guerrero returns to his All-Star form in 2027.

Why can’t the Blue Jays win without Vladimir Guerrero Jr.?

Shohei Ohtani. Aaron Judge. Bryce Harper. Baseball’s premier organizations all have a star with a gravitational pull. A guy whose production is consistent regardless of whoever else is playing alongside them. Their stability makes their teams perennial contenders. 

The 14-year, $500 million mega-deal the Blue Jays gave Guerrero wasn’t just a long-term contract extension. It was a proud declaration that the next decade-and-a-half of baseball in Toronto would revolve around him. He became the sun. 

There is simply no world where the Blue Jays compete for a World Series without Guerrero being an elite hitter. The same can be said for the New York Yankees and Judge, the Philadelphia Phillies and Harper, and even the loaded Los Angeles Dodgers and Ohtani. 

The Blue Jays’ front office built the 2026 squad expecting Guerrero to be one of those guys after watching his historic postseason. They thought he would be the kind of guy whose presence would make life easier for all his teammates. Instead, he ended up putting more pressure on them because he couldn’t execute whenever he was called upon. 

That’s why it doesn’t really matter who Atkins adds this offseason unless Guerrero bounces back. Would it be great to add someone like Brandon Lowe or Seiya Suzuki? Of course, but they aren’t going to transform this offense back into a good one. There are only a few players in baseball who can do that—and Guerrero should be one of them. 

He needs to hit 30 home runs in 2027. He needs to hit somewhere close to .300 with an OPS in the range of .900. If he doesn’t meet those totals, the Blue Jays will once again field an underwhelming offense. It truly is as simple as that. 

Is it fair to pin the entire fate of the franchise on one player? It certainly is when they have one of the richest contracts in professional sports. With great wealth comes great expectations, and the pressure is on Guerrero to live up to them. He needs to prove he can be the guy over the course of a 162-game season with the clock ticking on his prime.

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