Vladdy's Last Dance

 

I am trying to write this using my head and not my heart, and I am trying so hard to keep things calm and collected. Vladdy confirmed at 8 o’clock this morning that he and the Toronto Blue Jays could not reach an agreement on an extension and will test free agency in December. This is a huge mistake by the Jays' front office because Guerrero is a generational talent, and they have completely screwed up the entire process. Giving Vladdy a big-money deal wasn’t just about his play on the field—you also have to consider his impact on the fanbase. When you go to a Jays game and see people in Jays jerseys, 99% of them have "Guerrero" and "27" on the back.

I was in Dunedin for a week last spring, and at every game I attended, there were kids lined up for his autograph. There were kids everywhere, and he signed every single one. The impact Vladdy has on the fans is massive, and this front office pissed it all away.

So, Atkins and Shapiro had Vladdy break the news to the fans by speaking to the media because they didn’t have the balls to say, “We’re too cheap.” This decision makes no sense because Rogers Communications prints money. They spent billions of dollars on NHL broadcast rights and bought 50% of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, but they wouldn’t extend their franchise player? This is the same front office that reportedly offered Juan Soto $750 million—a guy whose game is either a home run or a strikeout, nothing in between.

This failed extension falls 100% on management. Remember, Shapiro oversaw the Cleveland Indians. When CC Sabathia was in his contract year, Shapiro failed to reach an agreement, and he lost CC to the Yankees. Now, Sabathia is heading to Cooperstown wearing a Yankees hat because Mark was too cheap.

When Atkins and Shapiro spoke to the media this morning, these two idiots tried to put all of the blame on Vladdy. Here are some of their quotes:

Atkins said, “Our offer was record-setting.” The biggest offer in Jays history was six years and $150 million for George Springer. So, Ross, if the offer was record-setting, what was the number?

Shapiro said, “We are disappointed we couldn’t reach an agreement. We value the player a lot.”

Well, Mark, if you valued Vladimir Guerrero Jr., you should have locked him up when he was runner-up for MVP a few years ago. And you sure as hell shouldn’t have said, “We don’t view Vladdy as a generational talent.” For those who don’t remember, Mark said that at his season-ending press conference while feeding us more bullshit like, “I can’t sleep at night because we aren’t in the playoffs.”

This morning, Atkins and Shapiro tried to put all the blame on Vladdy because they truly believe Jays fans are stupid. But we aren’t. We know the team’s issues start with the front office. The biggest example of this? The Wild Card loss against the Twins. You know the game—Berríos was pitching the game of his life, and after three innings, the Jays pulled him and brought in Kikuchi. That move was made because these two analytics-obsessed assholes believed that if Kikuchi came in, the Twins would change their entire lineup. What happened? The Twins kicked Toronto’s teeth in, and we lost the series.

These two idiots have destroyed a franchise because they are too damn cheap to pay their players. Guerrero and Bichette are in their final seasons. And if the Jays are out of the race by the end of July, both will be traded. The issue? If they’re traded, the return will be garbage. You’ll get prospects that may or may not develop—because why would a team give up real assets when they can just sign them in December?

I know I’m jumping around with my points, but like many Jays fans, I’m pissed off. This era has been wasted by Rogers, who decided to move on from Alex Anthopoulos and bring in Shapiro and Atkins. Anthopoulos went to the Braves and won a World Series. Meanwhile, Shapiro and Atkins haven’t won a single playoff game in nine seasons.

Some fans don’t think Vladdy was worth the money, and that’s fine—that’s your opinion. But my question to you is: When Vladdy leaves, who will Toronto have? We already know the Jays don’t plan on extending Bo Bichette because Bichette himself said the two sides haven’t even spoken. And don’t forget—they traded for Giménez, who will play second base this season but can also play shortstop, Bichette’s position.

When Guerrero leaves, Bichette leaves, and Bassitt leaves, do you think Santander will want to stay in Toronto and play for a team stuck in the basement of the division? Or will he demand a trade to a contender?

Enjoy this final season because it’s only going to get worse from here. And ownership needs to be hit where it hurts. Once Vladdy leaves, DON’T BUY TICKETS. Hit these idiots where it matters most—their wallets. Don’t buy season tickets, and if you have them, cancel them. If fans stop showing up and the dome is empty, then maybe Rogers will finally realize they need to make a change to bring the fans back.