As the AL shifts, Gibbons smiles

Jays manager confident about chances in 2018

in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Then Gibbons took his sense of humour to yet another level, saying: “Come watch Gibbons’s last year managing (the Blue Jays).”

He was asked again if he had a serious answer.

“Ask the GM, man,” Gibbons said. “Don’t ask me.”

Gibbons did get serious eventually, expressing faith that Atkins and the club’s front office will do something to address the club’s positional needs this off-season, from the starting pitching to the outfield to the big one — the offence. The Jays finished last in the AL in runs last season with 693. In 2016, Toronto was fifth with 759 runs. In 2015, they were first with 891.

“(Atkins) is looking at a lot of different things, but you’ve got to give things time,” Gibbons said. “I don’t think you can just react (instantly) to somebody making a big move like that. Sometimes that means riding it out a little bit to get what you want.”

Gibbons reiterated that the Jays’ 2018 season will largely hinge on whether Aaron Sanchez stays healthy. The big right-hander reportedly played catch at the team’s spring training facility in Dunedin, Fla., on Tuesday with no problems.

Sanchez, the AL ERA leader in 2016, was placed on the disabled list four times last season with blister issues on his right hand.

“He says he feels great,” Gibbons said. “All indications are (the blister issue) is behind him. We saw what happened last year when he wasn’t around. It’s vital.”

Gibbons couldn’t resist finishing his interview at the MLB winter meetings with another quip. When asked if he has drawn any conclusions on what went down last season, Gibbons replied: “You mean, could I have managed better?

“You can always do that,” he said with a laugh.