CANADA — Cito Gaston signed a two-year contract extension with the Toronto Blue Jays before their home finale Thursday night against the New York Yankees. Toronto has a 48-36 record since Gaston replaced John Gibbons on June 20. Toronto is 83-75 overall, fourth in the AL East.

When Gaston was hired, Ricciardi said the two would sit down after the season to discuss Gaston’s status for 2009. That changed in early August, when Ricciardi said Gaston would “definitely” be back.

The 64-year-old Gaston is Toronto’s first two-time manager and the fourth-oldest skipper in the majors. He joined the Blue Jays as a batting coach in 1981 and became manager for the first time in 1989, replacing Jimy Williams. Gaston led the team to four playoff appearances and two World Series titles before he was fired in the final week of the 1997 season.

Gaston didn’t manage elsewhere after being let go by the Blue Jays. He returned as hitting coach in 2000 but was not retained after the 2001 season. He began serving as a special assistant to the president and chief executive in 2002, and worked with Toronto’s hitters during spring training.

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