The Toronto Blue Jays made the playoffs and were one of the best teams in the American League this year.
That’s why remembering they forced a managerial change this season is a bit surprising.
Yet that was the case: they didn’t like what Charlie Montoyo was offering to the team and replaced him with John Schneider, who promptly became one of the youngest managers in baseball at 42.
It’s safe to say he left a good impression, judging from what the Jays just did.
“#BlueJays announce they have agreed to terms with John Schneider on a three-year contract as their manager for the 2023 through 2025 seasons, with a team option for 2026,” Kaitlyn McGrath, who covers the Blue Jays for The Athletic, tweeted on Friday.
#BlueJays announce they have agreed to terms with John Schneider on a three-year contract as their manager for the 2023 through 2025 seasons, with a team option for 2026
— Kaitlyn McGrath (@kaitlyncmcgrath) October 21, 2022
It’s an important commitment by the Blue Jays, because if they ever want to fire Schneider, they will likely have to pay most or all of the contract.
The Organization Has Faith In Schneider
It shows just how much faith the organization has in his project.
The numbers back him up: Schneider went 46-28 with a .622 winning percentage.
He was able to secure the top Wild Card spot in the American League.
The playoffs were disappointing, to say the least, as the Jays were swept 2-0 by the Seattle Mariners in the Wild Card round.
However, it’s not like they weren’t competitive: Toronto was close to winning both games.
With a more reliable bullpen and a few small tweaks in the lineup, the Jays should be contenders for a long time.
It’s nice to know that they will have some stability from the manager position.
When everybody is on the same page and you have a roster as talented as Toronto’s, big things can happen.
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