Blue Jays Sign Manager John Gibbons To Contract Extension

After guiding the franchise to back-to-back postseason appearances, the Toronto Blue Jays rewarded manager John Gibbons with a contract extension.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons and general manager Ross Atkins discussed a deal briefly after last season. Those discussions were renewed over Spring Training and now, it’s official.

As reported by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, Gibbons was rewarded with a new contract extension this morning. The 54-year old will have his contract extended through the 2019 season with a club option for 2020.

Gibbons, who has spent parts of nine seasons with the Blue Jays, helped the franchise revive a fan base after ending a 22-year playoff drought in 2015.

The former New York Mets catcher did manage the Jays from 2004-08, then returning to Toronto in 2013. Entering his fifth year of his second stint with the team, the Blue Jays appeared in the American League Championship Series in each of the past two seasons.

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Toronto won the American League East division with a 93-69 record in 2015. The Blue Jays defeated the Texas Rangers before losing to the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS.

Last fall, the Jays finished the season with an 89-73 record. They beat the Baltimore Orioles in the AL Wild Card game, then beat the Rangers once again the ALDS. However, they fell short to the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS.

When reports surfaced about an extension, Gibbons shared his thoughts on a potential new deal earlier this Spring.

"“It’s always a nice reward. I wasn’t obsessed with it. This organization has been great to me over the years. I’m pretty happy, pretty excited.”"

Team president Mark Shapiro restructured Gibbon’s contract prior to the start of the 2016 season. Former general manager Alex Anthopoulos was the one who put the original deal in place. Gibbon’s contract featured an interesting rolling option that would become a guarantee each year on January 1, with another option year added annually.

The new deal restructured by Shapiro gives Gibbon’s a modest pay raise that guarantees his salary through 2017 with no option for 2018.

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The skipper owns a 644-614 record as the Blue Jays’ manager. Gibbons’ 644 victories rank’s him second behind Cito Gaston (894-837) in franchise history. He posted a 305-305 record in his first stint with the Jays. Gibbon’s now has a 250-236 record in his second stint.