Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. let it be known once again that he really doesn’t like the New York Yankees.
In recent years, the rivalry between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays has only grown, especially since both have been in consistent postseason contention in that span. When it comes to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., he really takes the rivalry personally.
This past offseason, Guerrero made some viral comments, saying that he likes to “kill the Yankees” and expressed that he would never sign with them, “not even [when I’m] dead.”
On Friday, ahead of New York and Toronto’s first series of the season in the Bronx, Guerrero doubled down on his hard feelings toward the Yankees. Through an interpreter, Guerrero said in regard to his previous insistence that he will never sign with the Yankees, “I will never change that.”
Asked in NY about off-season comments in which he said he’d never sign with the Yankees, “not even dead,” Vlad Guerrero Jr. doubled down, saying he has personal/family reasons for preferring not to play for the Yankees and would “never” change his mind
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) April 21, 2023
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubles down on Yankees hate, hits home run in series opener
Let’s just say that Guerrero took out his hatred of the Yankees on the baseball. In the top of the first inning, Guerrero crushed a 417-foot, two-run homer to left center field to give the Blue Jays an early 2-0 lead. That swing by Guerrero looked personal. It certainly helped that Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German threw a pitch right down the middle.
Gone in a New York Minute 💥 #PLAKATA pic.twitter.com/Zl0F1R2SVe
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 21, 2023
Guerrero has said that there are personal reasons as to why he has ill-will towards the Yankees. What is known, however, is that the Yankees passed on signing Vladimir Guerrero Sr. during the 2003 offseason, and brought in Gary Sheffield. Again, it’s unknown if that has any correlation towards Vlad Jr.’s disdain for the organization.
Besides Guerrero’s comments about wanting to “kill the Yankees,” he also called the team the easiest to play against in 2022, despite the fact that they were 8-11 against them. Not just that, but the Yankees clinched the division at Rogers Centre, one night after Guerrero proclaimed the venue “[his] house” after a walk off win against them.
Every offseason, the Yankees are at least in the conversation for some of the top free agents available. But when/if Guerrero hits free agency after the 2025 season, you can essentially rule out him coming to the Bronx, based off his numerous comments about the organization.