Schneider had a strong case to become just the second manager in Blue Jays history to win the award and the first since the great Bobby Cox in 1985. Schneider took a 74-win, last-place team in the American League East to the top of the division in one year, adding 20 wins. While voting is finalized before the postseason begins, the rest of the baseball world got a taste of these new-look Blue Jays in their run to Game 7 of the World Series against the Dodgers.
A Blue Jays lifer since being drafted as a catcher 23 years ago, this felt like Schneider’s “breakout season” as a manager, which has been a long time coming for the 45-year-old:
“It takes reps. It takes messing some things up. It takes having a little bit of success and it takes a lot of trust in everybody around you,” Schneider said on MLB Network. “You want to be so convicted in being yourself and I feel like I was that this year, not being afraid to have a tough conversation, not letting anything go by the wayside and letting it rip. If you see something, say it. You learn every single day, and the day you stop learning is the day the game passes you by.”
Recently, the Blue Jays announced that Schneider’s 2026 option had been picked up and that he and general manager Ross Atkins were discussing the potential of something longer. Schneider has support throughout the organization, and now that the results on the field line up with it, you can expect Schneider in this role for the long haul.
“He keeps getting better,” team president and CEO Mark Shapiro said. “That’s a pretty good sign for leaders, right? When they continue to stay open-minded, learn and get better, he’s certainly put himself among the top group of managers in the game. He led us through some tough moments this year and led us to some great moments. He continues to be a factor and makes us better.”
Schneider has grown into every corner of this job, from handling a clubhouse to handling a dugout and juggling the never-ending media responsibilities that come with it. As he alluded to on MLB Network prior to the announcement, he embraced his own identity as a manager in 2025 and allowed more of his personality to break through, which the Blue Jays were all the better for.
“He’s awesome. He has our back. He’s everything you want in a man leading the charge,” said Ernie Clement. “He’s done a hell of a job. We would not be here without him. He takes the blame when things don’t go right, but he doesn’t get nearly enough credit when things do go right. He’s been awesome. We’re lucky to have him.”
Expectations will be sky-high for the Blue Jays going into 2026 and they’ll be all over the headlines this offseason, where they’re expected to be major players in free agency and the trade market. They’ve found their manager, though, and he’s been recognized as one of baseball’s best.
