John Gibbons will always have a fan in J.P. Arencibia

Say what you will about how the man manages a bullpen, but you can’t deny John Gibbons has a way with people.

Just ask J.P. Arencibia, who had nothing but good things to say about his former manager on the latest episode of “Digging in with J.P. Arencibia.”

“When I first got drafted, I went to big league camp and he was the manager then. And he was always really good at kind of just being loose and making me feel comfortable, especially as a 21-year-old,” said Arencibia.

Gibbons’ laid back nature is one of the traits that makes him a favourite among players and fans alike. With tough times ahead as the team transitions into a full-on rebuild, having a manager with Gibbons’ demeanor isn’t the worst idea.

Arencibia only ended up playing one season under Gibbons in 2013, but it’s one he’ll never forget. The former Blue Jays catcher struggled mightily at the plate in what ended up being his final season with the club, finishing the year with a sub-.200 batting average and .592 OPS. Despite his frustrations, Arencibia always appreciated the way he was treated by Gibbons.

“When the hamster in your head is just spinning uncontrollably, and the guy who really makes the decisions kind of tells you, ‘hey listen, I know it’s tough, but dang, I respect you,'” Arencibia said. “I always tell him that when I see him: during difficult times, you always were positive. So I always appreciated that from John Gibbons.”

The Blue Jays manager has one year remaining on his contract, but reports surfaced this week the team could cut ties with Gibbons this offseason. GM Ross Atkins has since denied those reports, saying Gibbons remains part of the team’s plans moving forward.

Gibbons has spent the past six seasons at the helm of the Blue Jays, guiding the team to the ALCS in 2015 and 2016.

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