Toronto extends manager's contract

TORONTO, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The Toronto Blue Jays have extended the contract of Manager Cito Gaston through the 2010 season.

Gaston, 64, was the team's club ambassador and special assistant to the president and chief executive officer when the 2008 season started, but returned to the dugout June 20 after Toronto fired John Gibbons.

Under Gaston's leadership, the Blue Jays compiled a 48-36 record going into Thursday night's contest against the New York Yankees.

"As far as we're concerned, Cito's done everything we thought he could do," Toronto President Paul Godfrey told the Toronto Star. "We're quite happy with his performance."

Gaston had the Blue Jays in the hunt for an American League wild-card berth for a time this month.

Returning to the post after an 11-year absence, he is the only two-time manager in franchise history.

Gaston was the manager when the Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.