MLB rumors: Blue Jays dumping John Gibbons | Why ex-Yankee Joe Girardi won't be on Toronto's short list

by Felix Pantaleón

The New York Yankees parted ways with Joe Girardi after losing Game 7 of the 2017 American League Championship Series to the Houston Astros. The Toronto Blue Jays are about to let manager John Gibbons walk. It doesn’t sound like Girardi would be on Toronto’s short list for manager candidates.

One of baseball’s worst-kept secrets will be made public on Wednesday, when the Toronto Blue Jays announce they are dumping manager John Gibbons.

#BlueJays will announce that John Gibbons won’t be returning as manager for 2019 season today, per multiple industry sources. Announcement will be confirming what’s been known for weeks.

— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) September 26, 2018

The #Bluejays are making official what the baseball world has known all summer: John Gibbons will not return as manager. Eric Wedge and Stubby Clapp are two strong potential candidates

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) September 26, 2018

The Blue Jays job would give a pair of American League East veterans a chance to get back at their former employers.

However don’t expect former Yankees manager Joe Girardi or former Red Sox manager John Farrell to land in Toronto, per Fancred’s Jon Heyman:

People close to the situation suggest the plan is to hire a younger manager with a likely target date to compete in 2020 or 2021.

Ex-Yankee to replace Mike Scioscia?

Farrell, who was kicked out of Boston after the 2017 season, is on the short list for manager interviews with the Cincinnati Reds.

Girardi, who the Yankees let go after 2017 season as well, is not on the Reds’ list.

The Yankees parted ways with Girardi after the 2017 season, which ended with a Game 7 loss to the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series.

In February, Girardi joined MLB Network as an analyst.

Since then, Girardi has admitted he wants another shot at being a big-league skipper:

“No, that hasn’t changed. I loved every minute of it. I’ve had a chance to do it 11 years in my life (10 seasons with the Yankees and one with the Marlins). I’d like to do it again,” Girardi told The (New York Daily) News.

But Girardi added he wouldn’t be opposed to considering an offer to work for a team in another capacity besides managing. Ruben Amaro Jr., the former Phillies‘ GM, is now the first base coach for the Mets.

“I would definitely listen. I love just being around the game, because it’s what I’ve grown up doing my whole life. I’m not just married to managing,” said Girardi. “I would listen to anything, but I would like to manage again.”

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.