Gaston will be returning to skipper Jays next season

TORONTO - Vernon Wells is taking a brief detour to Pennsylvania coal-mining country. Travis Snider has reached the top of the minor-league mountain. And Cito Gaston is not going anywhere.

The source here is J. P. Ricciardi, the Toronto Blue Jays general manager, whose own destination for 2009 will be the subject of further review. But as he discussed various troop movements yesterday, Ricciardi said Gaston will be his manager next season.

"He's done a good job here," Ricciardi said. "We're six games over .500 since he took over. We've got a long way to go offensively, but he's really laid the groundwork for some of the right stuff offensively, and guys like playing for him."