Report: Toronto Blue Jays, manager John Gibbons close to extension

According to reports, the Toronto Blue Jays are close to a contract extension with manager John Gibbons.

The second time has been the charm for John Gibbons and the Toronto Blue Jays. The club’s manager from 2005-08, Gibbons was perfectly average. With a 305-305 record at the helm, and zero postseason appearances, the Jays fired Gibbons in the middle of his fifth season on the bench.

However, Gibbons returned for a second stint as manager in 2013. Following back-to-back trips to the American League Championship Series, he is set to begin his second fourth season as Toronto’s manager. This time, according to Gregor Chisolm of MLB.com, Gibbons and the Blue Jays are close to signing a multi-year extension.

Gibbons entered spring training on the final year of his contract, so a new deal would add some extra job security prior to Opening Day.

In nine years as a major league manager, Gibbons has a 644-614 record in the regular season, and a 10-10 mark in the postseason. The 54-year-old led the Blue Jays to an 89-73 record last year and a spot in the American League Wild Card Game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Toronto beat Baltimore 5-2, then swept the Texas Rangers in three games in the AL Division Series. The Blue Jays then fell to the Cleveland Indians in five games in the ALCS.

Despite the club’s recent success on the field, an extension isn’t likely to be celebrated by all fans. After all, based on the runs scored and runs allowed in each of Gibbon’s seven seasons with the club, the Blue Jays have yet to exceed their Pythagorean won-loss projections.

Next: 10 best best in MLB for 2017

For example, the 93-69 Blue Jays scored a franchise record 891 runs in 2015 and allowed 670, which would usually correlate to 103 victories. Last season, Toronto won 89 games, but based on 759 runs scored and 666 runs allowed, should have won 92.

Nevertheless, the Blue Jays front office is happy with Gibbons, and that’s what matters most for the manager.