TAMPA, Fla. – The Toronto Blue Jays’ coaches have been given permission to speak with other teams after being informed by GM Ross Atkins they’ll be considered for 2019 jobs, but that the next staff will be built with input from John Gibbons’s replacement as manager.
Atkins delivered the news on Friday – just two days after the club announced that Gibbons won’t be back next year – during a series of meetings with each member of a group that’s been together the past four years, although some have been with the organization far longer.
Bullpen coach Dane Johnson, for instance, was drafted by the Blue Jays in 1984 and has served in a variety of roles since 2000.
Pitching coach Pete Walker appeared in 124 games for the Blue Jays from 2002-06 before returning as a coach in 2009 and joining the big-league staff in 2012.
Third base coach Luis Rivera managed double-A New Hampshire to the post-season in 2010 before serving as a big-league coaching assistant in 2011-12 and becoming third base coach in 2013.
Bench coach DeMarlo Hale, Walker and Rivera have been together since Gibbons was rehired for the 2013 season, with first base coach Tim Leiper moving from a player-development role to first base coach the next year.
Hitting coach Brook Jacoby and Johnson joined the staff in 2015, while Mike Mordecai, who’d been in the organization since 2010, took over as quality control coach this season.
Like Gibbons, all are under contract for 2019 but are free to seek work elsewhere.
It’s possible that some could be back next year, but typically new managers are allowed to select a handful of their coaches – the bench coach is often a confidant – while other roles are collectively assigned with the front office.
The Blue Jays have been inundated with expressions of interest in the managerial role since Wednesday’s announcement made Gibbons’ departure after the season official.
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