Your timeline is all wrong..
Gibby left after 2018 even though his contract ran through 2019, so his contract wasn't up yet.
He stated on august 10 he didnt want to go through a full rebuild.
Atkins stated August 17, clearly in response to Gibbys previous comments, that they had a long talk together and Gibbons would at least finish the season
Then on sept 24 the final day of the season they announced he would not return, and that day Gibby again reiterated that he doesnt have the energy to go through a rebuild.
Gibby allowed the Jays to save face by not outright quitting, that was the only spin involved.