Pittsburgh, PA (Best E Casino) - A tough week for managers just got tougher, as the Toronto Blue Jays fired John Gibbons on Friday and replaced him with a familiar face in Cito Gaston.

Gibbons compiled an even record of 305 wins and 305 losses during his tenure, which started in August, 2004. The highest finish for the Blue Jays under his watch was second in the AL East in 2006 with an 87-75 mark. However, the Blue Jays were just 35-39 under his command this season and entered Friday 10 1/2 games back of first-place Boston in the American League East.

The move came after the Blue Jays were swept in a three-game set at Milwaukee. Gibbons becomes the third manager this week to lose his job, joining Willie Randolph of the New York Mets and John McLaren of the Seattle Mariners.

The 64-year-old Gaston becomes the first two-time manager of the Blue Jays, moving over from his position as club ambassador and special assistant to the president and CEO. Gaston managed the Blue Jays from 1989-1997 and led the team to four playoff appearances, including back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993.

Gaston has a career record of 681-636 as manager in a franchise-high 1,317 games. However, the Jays dropped his first game at the helm, 1-0, to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

Third base coach Marty Pevey, first base coach Ernie Whitt and hitting coach Gary Denbo were also let go.

New names to the staff will be first base coach Dwayne Murphy, third base coach Nick Leyva and hitting coach Gene Tenace. Murphy moves from his position as roving minor league hitting instructor, while Leyva returns to the Blue Jays in a similar capacity, as he was the third base coach under Gaston from 1993-97. Tenace was the hitting and bench coach of the Blue Jays from 1990-97.