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Blue Jays Send Fregosi Flying

October 10, 2000 / 4:14 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Jim Fregosi was fired Tuesday as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays after two seasons of third-place finishes.

The Blue Jays confirmed the decision on Tuesday following a season in which Toronto finished 83-79 this season in the AL East. Fregosi's contract expired at the end of the season.

"The contract of manager Jim Fregosi will not be renewed," the team said in a statement.

General manager Gord Ash was in Florida to meet with Fregosi, who said earlier in the day his gut feeling was that he would be told his two-year stint with the club was over.

Before the Blue jays' announcement, Fregosi said he felt he would not be back but would not elaborate on why he felt his contract, which expired at the end of the season, would not be renewed.

"I don't know," Fregosi said by telephone from his home in Tarpon Springs, Fla. "I guess they just don't want me to manage them any more."

He is the sixth manager to be fired since the season ended, following Terry Francona (Philadelphia), Buck Showalter (Arizona), Gene Lamont (Pittsburgh), Jack McKeon (Reds) and Davey Johnson (Los Angeles).

Fregosi said he would not be interested in another position within the Toronto organization, but that he would like to remain in the game.

"Yes, I would like to continue to manage," said Fregosi, who also expected at least two members of his coaching staff, Bobby Knoop and Lee Elia, to be fired, too.

The other coaches, including former manager and current hitting coach Cito Gaston, are believed to be safe. Gaston managed the Blue Jays to two World Series titles.

The Blue Jays set up a media conference call for later in the day with team president and CEO Paul Godfrey and Ash, who was given a three-year contract extension earlier in the day.

"I am delighted to have come to an agreement with Gord on this contract," Godfrey said in a release. "He has worked under difficult circumstances for the last several years but has performed exceptionally well, keeping the club very competitive."

Fregosi, who has also managed the California Angels, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, compiled a 167-157 record and finished third in the AL East the past two seasons. Lagging attendance reportedly was one of the reasons the front office was contemplating a change.

Fregosi took over the Blue Jays with 13 games remaining in the 1999 spring training schedule after Tim Johnson was fired for lying about serving in Vietnam. The Jays finished 84-78 that season.

Top candidates to replace Fregosi reportedly include former Blue Jays star Paul Molitor, TSN broadcaster Buck Martinez and one-time Toronto catcher Ernie Whitt.