Report: Mets hiring ex-Blue Jays manager Gibbons as bench coach
The New York Mets are bringing in an experienced hand to work alongside first-year manager Carlos Mendoza.
Former Toronto Blue Jays skipper John Gibbons is nearing a deal to join Mendoza's staff as his bench coach, sources told Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Gibbons collected a 793-789 record over parts of 11 seasons with the Blue Jays, his first stint running 2004-08 and second from 2013-18. The 61-year-old is most famous for guiding star-studded Blue Jays teams to consecutive ALCS appearances in 2015 and '16.
The Blue Jays parted ways with Gibbons after the 2018 season as they began a rebuilding process.
Despite his teams posting winning records in five of his nine full campaigns in the dugout, Gibbons was never offered a managerial job outside of Toronto. He spent three years as the Kansas City Royals' bench coach between stints with the Blue Jays and also worked as a coach in Toronto from 2002-04.
The hiring also marks Gibbons' return to the Mets, who drafted him in the first round (24th overall) in 1980. Once considered the Mets' catcher of the future, Gibbons quickly rose through their farm system and was poised to be their Opening Day catcher as a rookie in 1984 before a knee injury derailed his career. He ultimately played in just 18 big-league games, all with the Mets, but earned a World Series ring as their bullpen catcher during their 1986 championship run.
Gibbons will join Mendoza's coaching staff along with Mike Sarbaugh, who New York is hiring as its third base coach, sources told SNY's Andy Martino. Sarbaugh spent the last 11 seasons as Terry Francona's third base and infield coach in Cleveland.
The Mets hired Mendoza as their manager earlier this month to replace Buck Showalter, who the club fired in October after two seasons on the job.