Cito Gaston returning to Blue Jays

TORONTO, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Cito Gaston will manage the Toronto Blue Jays through the 2009 season.

Gaston, 64, returned to the team June 20, when John Gibbons was fired after a disappointing 35-39 start, which included a five-game losing streak.

Gaston, who managed the Blue Jays to World Series titles in 1992 and '93, has helped improve Toronto's record to 59-56, making its record 24-17 in his return.

Originally he agreed to stay until the end of this season.

"I don't think there has been any secret with that," General Manager J.P. Ricciardi said on his weekly radio show earlier this week. "Cito will definitely be back. We've got a long way to go offensively, but he has really laid the groundwork for some of the right stuff. He was the right guy at the right time. We'll sit down and evaluate (but) Cito's going to have a big hand in what kind of staff we have here."