Blue Jays fire Gibbons, hire Gaston

John Gibbons was fired Friday by the last-place Toronto Blue Jays and replaced by Cito Gaston, who led the team to World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.

The Blue Jays are 35-40, having lost six in a row and 14 of their last 18 games to fall 11 1/2 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox in the American League East.

“The team just wasn’t doing what was expected of it, and maybe changes were needed,” Gibbons said during a conference call.

“There was a lot expected this year, we came in riding high and speaking high. And that’s not the results we’re getting now.”

Gibbons, who became manager midway through the 2004 season, had a record of 305-305 with the Blue Jays. His best season was in 2006, when the Blue Jays went 87-75 to finish second in the division.

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Curt Schilling will undergo surgery on his ailing shoulder Monday, ending his season and possibly his career.

The 41-year-old Red Sox right-hander will have the operation after a rehabilitation program preferred by the team failed to fix the tendon injury.

“My season is over and there is a pretty decent chance I have thrown my last pitch forever,” Schilling said on a Boston radio station.