The New York Mets are set to hire former Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons as their bench coach, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi confirmed Wednesday.
The news of a near-deal was first reported by The Athletic's Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal.
In Gibbons, first-year Mets manager Carlos Mendoza gets an experienced right-hand man.
The Blue Jays cut ties with Gibbons after the 2018 season, wrapping up his second stint with Toronto. Gibbons, who returned as manager in 2013, led the Blue Jays to the playoffs in 2015 and 2016, ending a 22-year playoff drought for the franchise.
Blue Jays fans gave Gibbons a loud ovation when he was introduced at Jose Bautista's level-of-excellence ceremony this year.
Gibbons was first named manager during the 2004 season after the Blue Jays fired Carlos Tosca and promoted the then-first base coach. Gibbons was fired during the 2008 season and replaced by Cito Gaston.
As a player, Gibbons had two brief stints with the Mets as a catcher in 1984 and '86. He got a World Series ring in 1986 after serving as bullpen catcher.
Gibbons previously served as a bench coach for the Kansas City Royals from 2009 to '11.
Gibbons, 61, did some scouting work for the Atlanta Braves and former Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos after he was cut loose in Toronto the second time.
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