Blue Jays grant Vladimir Guerrero's wish for release - CBC.ca

Former Orioles' designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero hit .303 in his first eight games with the Blue Jays' AAA affiliate in Las Vegas, adding four runs batted in. (Patrick Semansky/Associated Press files)

Vladimir Guerrero has decided the Toronto Blue Jays are no longer a good fit.

The slugger on Tuesday was granted his wish to be released from his pro-rated $1.3-million US base salary minor league contract after reportedly leaving the AAA Las Vegas 51s late Monday night to return to his home in Anaheim, Calif.

It's believed an extended deadline to summon Guerrero from the minors passed on Monday without word from Blue Jays officials, according to ESPNdeportesLosAngeles.com. The original deadline of Sunday was said to be moved ahead by a day because Guerrero missed a game after taking a pitch off his hand Saturday.

Before departing Las Vegas, Guerrero went 4-for-5 in Monday’s 13-3 win over Tucson. He drove in two runs and finished with a .303 batting average and four runs batted in through eight games with the 51s.

"Guerrero is ready to play today in the big leagues," a source close to the nine-time all-star told ESPN.

Toronto signed the 37-year-old to a minor league contract on May 10. He appeared in four games for single-A Dunedin at extended spring training in Florida and hit .450 (9-for-20) with four homers and eight RBIs.

A 16-year veteran, Guerrero won the 2004 American League MVP award with the Angels and boasts a career .318 average with 449 homers an 1,496 RBIs.

Guerrero hit at a .290 clip with a .416 slugging percentage in 145 games for the Baltimore Orioles last season.