TORONTO (AP) -The Blue Jays will keep their coaching staff intact for next season.
The team agreed to two-year contract extensions Tuesday with pitching coach Brad Arnsberg, bench coach Brian Butterfield, third base coach Nick Leyva, first base coach Dwayne Murphy, hitting coach Gene Tenace and bullpen coach Bruce Walton.
Leyva, Murphy and Tenace were hired June 20 when Cito Gaston replaced John Gibbons as manager, while Arnsberg, Butterfield and Walton are holdovers from Gibbons’ staff.
Gaston, who led Toronto to a 51-37 record after being hired, signed a two-year extension last week.
Levya and Tenace were on Gaston’s staff when the Blue Jays won the World Series in 1992 and 1993, while Murphy served as Toronto’s minor league roving hitting instructor before being promoted.
Arnsberg has spent four years with the Blue Jays. His staff posted a major league-best 3.49 ERA in 2008.
Butterfield was Toronto’s third base coach for parts of five seasons before becoming bench coach in 2007.
Walton has spent seven seasons as Toronto’s bullpen coach. Blue Jays relievers had a major league-low 2.94 ERA in 2008.
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