Baseball Notes: Jays said to be keen on extending contract of manager John Gibbons
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD.— Blue Jays manager John Gibbons is signed through the 2017 season but that will soon change.
Gibbons and the club had reached a new agreement during the season that replaced the unique roll-over clause that allowed for an extension every New Year’s Day if he had not been fired in exchange for a raise in the final year of his deal in 2017.
But Atkins suggested Tuesday discussions regarding an extension for Gibbons would have begun this week at the winter meetings except a family issue kept the Jays manager home in San Antonio.
Atkins is hoping to reach agreement on an extension before the new year. REVERE PERSON OF INTEREST: If the Jay’ reported negotiations with outfielder Dexter Fowler do not work out, Gibbons would not be upset to see the return of popular outfielder and leadoff man Ben Revere.
The 28-year-old left fielder struggled with an oblique injury to post his worst numbers in five years, hitting .217 with 14 steals and a .560 OPS. He was non-tendered by the Nationals last Friday.
“Benny did a great job for us two years ago,” Gibbons said.
“He was definitely banged up last year. But that’s another name we’ve definitely thrown around. A lot of names have been thrown around, but I liked Benny. He did the job for us. He was really a fan favourite and the guys in the clubhouse really loved him too.” BENOIT A PHILLIE: Reliever Joaquin Benoit and the Philadelphia Phillies finalized a $7.5 million (U.S.), oneyear contract, part of the team’s efforts to rebuild its bullpen.
Benoit, a 39-year-old right-hander, has had an ERA under 3.00 for six of the past seven years. He was 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA last season, including a 0.38 ERA after the Blue Jays acquired him from Seattle in July for reliever Drew Storen. Benoit averaged 9.75 strikeouts per nine innings. HONOURING JETER: Derek Jeter’s No. 2 is being retired, the last of the New York Yankees’ single digits.
The Yankees said Tuesday the number will be retired on May 14 before a Mother’s Day game against Houston, and a plaque in his honour will be unveiled in Monument Park during the ceremony.
Jeter’s number is the 21st retired by the team. He won five World Series titles and was a 14-time all-star during a 20-season career that ended in 2014 and he is sixth in career hits with 3,465. CHA-CHING: The value of a full post-season share on the World Series champions declined for the second straight year.
A full share on the Chicago Cubs following the team’s first title since 1908 was worth $368,872, the commissioner’s office said Tuesday.
That is down from $370,069 for last year’s Kansas City Royals and a record $388,606 for the 2014 San Francisco Giants.
ARIZONA SIGNS MATHIS: Catcher Jeff Mathis and the Arizona Diamondbacks have finalized a $4 million, two-year contract.
The 33-year-old, a 12-year major league veteran, played the last four seasons as the No. 2 catcher for the Miami Marlins. He hit .238 in 41 games this year with two home runs and 15 RBIs.