Former Blue Jays manager to become Mets bench coach

The Mets are hiring John Gibbons as their bench coach, tweets Mike Puma of the New York Post. Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic first reported (X link) that the Mets were nearing agreement with Gibbons to take the position.

New York has turned to a first-time skipper in former Yankee bench coach Carlos Mendoza. Immediately after Mendoza’s hiring, reports suggested they were seeking a more experienced voice to operate as his chief staffer. The 61-year-old Gibbons qualifies.

A first-round pick of the Mets in 1980, Gibbons played 18 big league games with New York in the mid-80s. He had a far lengthier big league run as a manager. Gibbons, who began his coaching career in the Mets system in 1990, logged two separate stints as an MLB manager in Toronto. 

He led the Blue Jays from 2004-08. After being dismissed midway through the ’08 season, Gibbons spent some time as bench coach in Kansas City.

The Jays re-hired him as manager going into the 2013 season. He’d hold that position for six more seasons, overseeing three straight winning campaigns between 2014-16. The Jays made the playoffs in both 2015 and ’16, advancing to the AL Championship Series both years. 

The team’s performance tailed off thereafter, as they finished below .500 in both 2017 and ’18. The Jays replaced Gibbons with Charlie Montoyo going into 2019.

Gibbons has been floated as a candidate for a few managerial vacancies in the years since. While he hasn’t gotten a look in the lead role, he’ll return to a coaching staff as Mendoza’s top lieutenant.

In other coaching news, Puma reported Tuesday that New York was nearing agreement to hire Jose Rosado as bullpen coach. He had overlapped with Mendoza during a run in the Yankees’ farm system. 

Meanwhile, Andy Martino of SNY reports (on X) that the club will hire Mike Sarbaugh as third base coach. He had held that role under Terry Francona in Cleveland for 11 seasons.