Blue Jays hire Eric Wedge for front-office role; could he replace manager John Gibbons?
The Toronto Blue Jays announced Saturday that Eric Wedge, who spent 10 seasons as a manager for the Cleveland Indians (2003-2009) and Seattle Mariners (2011-2013), has been hired as the team's Player Development Advisor.
The @BlueJays have hired Eric Wedge in the role of Player Development Advisor
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) February 6, 2016
Wedge has spent the past two years working as an analyst at ESPN. Despite his job title in Toronto, there already is speculation that Wedge could be the "manager in waiting" to replace current skipper John Gibbons.
Because the Blue Jays are coming off their best season (an AL East title, a trip to the ALCS) since 1993, Gibbons shouldn't be going anywhere if the teams sustains its success.
In Wedge's 10 seasons as a manager in the majors, he posted a record of 774-846. He had only two winning seasons, but did win the 2007 American League Manager of the Year Award after leading the Indians to a 96-66 season. His time in Cleveland coincided with that of Mark Shapiro, who now is the Blue Jays' president and CEO. Wedge's three-year tenure in Seattle ended with a falling out with the team's front office.
While the Blue Jays aren't expected to force out Gibbons, having Wedge in at their disposal could make for a passable "Plan B" should Toronto take a step back in 2016.
