BLUE JAYS SKIPPER GIBBONS IS OUT
TORONTO» Blue Jays manager John Gibbons will not return next season.
Toronto made the announcement before Wednesday’s game against Houston. The 56yearold has one season left in a twoyear extension he received in April 2017.
Gibbons is 791787 in 11 seasons during two stints managing Toronto, his 1,578 games second only to Cito Gaston’s 1,764. Gibbons trails Gaston (913) in career wins with Toronto.
Gibbons replaced Carlos Tosca in August 2004, was fired in June 2008 and returned ahead of the 2013 season.
Two years later, the Blue Jays won the AL East and ended a 22year postseason drought, buoyed by the addition of slugger Josh Donaldson. They lost the AL Championship Series in six games against Kansas City, which went on the win the World Series.
A wildcard winner in 2016, the Blue Jays lost to Cleveland in a fivegame championship series.
Braves’ Swanson may not play in postseason.
Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson has a partially torn ligament in his left hand and it’s unclear if he will be available in the postseason for the NL East champions.
Swanson traveled from New York to Atlanta on Wednesday to get his wrist and hand examined by team doctors. He will undergo treatment while missing the rest of the regular season, which ends Sunday.
The Braves said Swanson will be reevaluated next week before they open the bestoffive NL division series Oct. 4.
Swanson exited Tuesday night’s 73 win over the Mets for tests.
“He swung the bat and something didn’t feel right,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “Which is why he’d alarmed me a little bit. He’d been feeling fine, hadn’t been complaining about it.”
Yanks’ Gregorius, Hicks to return soon.
ST. PETERSBURG,
FLA.» Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius and center fielder Aaron Hicks could return from injuries during a regular seasonending series this weekend at Boston.
Gregorius was cleared to resume baseball activities after a hand specialist examined his right wrist. Gregorius tore cartilage in the wrist during a headfirst slide last weekend while scoring the run that clinched a postseason berth.