The Blue Jays made baseball’s worst kept secret official today, announcing that John Gibbons will not return as the team’s manager in 2019. Gibbons has one more year left on his contract meaning he’ll get to enjoy a paid vacation on Rogers’ dime.

We’ve known this for quite some time. The Blue Jays are entering a rebuild period and Gibbons has said, at this stage in his career, that he isn’t interested in being a part of it. It does truly seem that this parting is mutual.

Gibbons was hired for his second round as Blue Jays manager back before the 2013 season when Alex Anthopolous went all in with the R.A. Dickey, Jose Reyes, and Mark Buehrle acquisitions. That season completely flopped and people wanted Gibbons fired since the moment he was hired. But, as time went along, Gibby endeared himself to the fanbase with his laid back attitude and sense of humour.

Honestly, I think he was a perfect fit for these teams. He was a patient, calming influence on young players as they learned how to play in the Major Leagues and he gave his superstar veterans and their egos enough space, but not too much that there was ever much internal conflict on the team. You could easily tell that the players on the team loved to play for Gibby.

It’s a shame to see Gibby go, of course, but I’m glad the organization made this announcement before the team’s final home game. That way, like with Jose Bautista, the fans can give him a proper ovation as he exits. Ideally, he gets tossed from this afternoon’s game, for old time’s sake.

The most interesting tidbit to come today is that Gibbons repeatedly suggested Stubby Clapp would be his ideal replacement. Clapp has won Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year in back-to-back seasons for the Cardinals’ Triple-A team. And he’s Canadian, too, which certainly wouldn’t hurt his cause.