Blue Jays GM offers candid take on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s shocking season: ‘I lose sleep’

· New York Post

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins says he’s losing sleep over Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s horrid season.

Less than a year after Toronto was on the brink of a World Series title before losing to the Dodgers, the Blue Jays found themselves bottom of the American League East with a 53-61 record.

A large reason for this is Guerrero’s slump that has him hitting just .259 with six home runs and 44 RBIs entering Wednesday.

Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins speaks to the media during a press conference in Toronto. AP

Last season he hit 23 home runs and tallied 84 RBIs, and in 2024 he had 30 home runs with 103 RBIs.

“I lose sleep,” Atkins said of Guerrero on Sportsnet’s “Blair and Baker” show.

“There are subtle differences. There’s no glaring, alarming concern … He feels pressure and disappointment, but he’s facing it head on.”

Atkins added that it’s extremely difficult to retrain yourself once those subtle differences become habits.

The general manager also placed blame on himself and the team’s staff for not being able to unlock the slugger this year.

Guerrero has also been dealing with nagging back and hamstring issues this season, seemingly feeling it again in Tuesday’s 7-2 loss to the Astros.

Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. breaks his bat after grounding out against the St. Louis Cardinals. Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP

The first baseman looked uncomfortable after running out a ground ball in the later innings, and received an off day Wednesday.

“He’s grinding. I think everyone is,” manager John Schneider said. “He’s had some hamstring tightness. It’s a little bit of that to give him a blow, then a little bit of the quick turnaround, just to give him a reset. He’s feeling OK, but he’s been dealing with that and some other things for a while.”

As of now, the team is not considering an IL stint, according to MLB.com, partially because Guerrero himself believes the team can still make a run at the playoffs.

Despite a poor standing in the AL East, Toronto only sits four games back from the final Wild Card spot.

“He wants to be out there. He wants to be contributing more than he is,” Schneider said. “I’ll talk to him today as the day goes, then when we get into Chicago (for upcoming Cubs series).”