Former Blue Jays manager John Gibbons on the top of a short list to become New York Mets manager in 2026
Photo credit: https://www.mlb.com/
Could former Toronto Blue Jays Manager John Gibbons be the next skipper of the New York Mets?
For Gibby, it was a homecoming of sorts after the Mets hired him as their bench coach in 2023.
He has a long history with the club dating back to 1980, when he was the 24th overall pick by New York in the MLB Draft.
Gibbons played eight years in the Mets organization, including Major League stints with the club in 1984 and '86.
He then returned to the organization in '91 to become a roving Minor League instructor before becoming a manager starting with Class A Short Season Kingsport four years later.
By 1999, Gibbons worked his way up to Triple-A Norfolk before joining the Toronto Blue Jays as a big league coach and manager.
«That's where it all started as a player. The Mets gave me my first shot at my dream to play in the big leagues. It didn't work out,» Gibbons said. «Without the Mets giving me a coaching opportunity, none of this other stuff [like working with the Blue Jays] happens. There is a pretty good bond there with the Mets. I met so many good people over the years. It's almost kind of natural that I'm coming back.»
Former Blue Jays manager John Gibbons at the top of a short list to become the New York Mets skipper
For 11 seasons, John Gibbons was the manager of the Blue Jays.
Gibbons served two tenures as Blue Jays manager from 2004-2008, then again from 2013-2018.
Gibbons became a fan favorite in Toronto by guiding the Blue Jays to the ALCS in back-to-back years in 2015 and 2016, and also for some of his classic ejections as skipper.
John Gibbons 52 ejections is a Toronto Blue Jays record that will never be beat. Cito Gaston is a distant second with 27.
After signing superstar Juan Soto to a record breaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets in December, expectations were high for the team in 2025.
Currently the Mets are on an 0-8 skid and their playoff hopes are dwindling as they're desperately trying to hold onto the third wildcard spot in the NL.
With the position the Mets are in, it could be possible that the former Blue Jays manager could potentially become the manager of the Mets in 2026.
The Mets have seen cold stretches over the course of the second half to fall down in the standings, and have blown the NL East Division lead to the Philadelphia Phillies.
The current manager of the Mets is Carlos Mendoza. In 2024, Mendoza guided the Mets to the NLCS in his first season as the team's manager.
However, the conclusion of the 2025 season could be a deciding factor on whether Mendoza sticks around or not. If the Mets collapse and miss the postseason, Mendoza's job security could be shrinking by the day.
At 61 years old, Gibbons has a solid resume to bring to the table. Gibbons recorded a 793-789 record (.501 winning percentage) during his managing career in Toronto.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 15 | 159 ANSWERS Former Blue Jays manager John Gibbons on the top of a short list to become New York Mets manager in 2026 Do you think John Gibbons will be the next manger of the New York Mets? | ||
| Yes | 86 | 54.1 % |
| No | 31 | 19.5 % |
| Too early to tell | 42 | 26.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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