John Gibbons' time as the Blue Jays' manager may be coming to a close, as MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman reported Thursday in a story for Fancred Sports that Toronto and Gibbons are "ready to part ways" once the 2018 season concludes.
Heyman, citing sources close to the team, reports that it is a "99.9 percent" certainty that the Blue Jays will move on to a new manager in 2019. Additionally, a source has told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand that Gibbons will "most likely" be gone at the end of the year.
General manager Ross Atkins declined comment for Heyman's story, but he has already stated on the record that Gibbons will finish out this season before the team revisits his status. Atkins was adamant while speaking to reporters on Aug. 17 that no decision will be made in-season in regards to Gibbons, who is signed with the Blue Jays through next year.
"We were always having those discussions," said Atkins. "We're constantly having discussions about how we can get better, how we can improve, and [Gibbons] is always a part of those."
Gibbons' departure has been rumored for some time, and the manager told MLB Network Radio on Aug. 10 that he wasn't sure he wanted "to go through a total rebuild."
Josh Donaldson's departure to Cleveland at the end of August further signals that the Blue Jays will transition to a younger cast in the coming years, highlighted by top prospects including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.
"Truthfully, a full breakdown, going young, you know, I have to admit -- I don't know if I'm interested in that," Gibbons clarified later on Aug. 10. "But we'll see. I'm still here. I've enjoyed every minute of it. Everybody has been great to me, no doubt about that. We'll see where it all ends up."
Toronto entered Thursday's home matchup against the Indians with a 63-76 record, fourth in the competitive American League East. Gibbons, currently in his second tenure as the Blue Jays' manager, owns a career 783-776 record as the club's skipper.