Report: Blue Jays, Gibbons ‘ready to part ways’ after season

MLB insider Ben Nicholson-Smith discusses the Blue Jays outfield depth on the Jeff Blair Show, wondering how prominently Teoscar Hernandez and Kevin Pillar fit into future plans.

The Toronto Blue Jays and manager John Gibbons are set to part ways at the end of the 2018 season, according to Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports.

Heyman’s source claims it is “99.9 per cent done” that the Blue Jays will hire a new manager next season. Heyman also reports Toronto plans to hire someone younger as Gibbons’ replacement.

The news doesn’t come as much of a surprise considering Gibbons himself hinted last month that he’s not keen on the idea of managing a team through a rebuild.

“I’m not that 35-year-old kid anymore,” Gibbons told MLB Network Radio on Aug. 10. “Those things take time. I want to continue doing this job in some capacity. I think one of my strengths is patience. I’ve always had great patience. But I don’t know if I have that much patience.”

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins confirmed on Aug. 17 that Gibbons would finish out the remainder of the 2018 season.

Gibbons has posted a 783-776 record in 11 years managing the Blue Jays across two tenures. Toronto is fourth in the American League East with a 63-76 record in 2018.

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