This is shocking: Per multiple reports, Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos will not return to the position next year. It’s a pretty dramatic move, considering he got the team within two wins of the World Series, but according to TSN.ca’s Rick Westhead, he and Mark Shapiro didn’t see eye to eye. Anthopoulos turned down a contract extension with the club, as he was scolded for trading so many top prospects to gear up for a playoff run.
Source: In their 1st & only meeting, new Jays prez Mark Shapiro scolded Alex Anthopolous & staff for trading so many top prospects this yr
— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) October 29, 2015
Uh… does Shapiro not realize the team nearly made the World Series after missing the playoffs for over 20 straight years? Anyway, apparently the Blue Jays are about to experience some massive change. Keith Law of ESPN appeared on TSN Radio 1050 this morning and said the move was a bad look for the organization because AA did everything possible to ensure his team was successful. He said Anthopoulos didn’t leave because of money issues, but because he couldn’t see eye to eye with Shapiro being heavily involved with baseball operations. (Who can blame him?)
Law expects Shapiro to trade some of the big league roster to replenish the farm system. And the kicker is, when asked if manager John Gibbons would be retained, he said “No.”
The move just reeks of incompetence, as Anthopoulos, who’s a Canadian, did an excellent job crafting the team which was so successful. He was a master of making trades when they seemed impossible to make, such as prying Josh Donaldson from the cold dead hands of Billy Beane. Yes, Anthopoulos did trade some assets, but for Pete’s sake, with a little more luck they’re playing baseball right now. Shapiro is vanilla ice cream as a roster builder, AA was Neapolitan.
Good chance #BlueJays execs such as Tony LaCava (VP/baseball ops) and Perry Minasian (director, pro scouting) will also look to leave team.
— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) October 29, 2015
I know it sounds like I’m overvaluing Anthopoulos’ contributions, but this is a tremendous disappointment for Blue Jays fans everywhere. He’s going to be a coveted free agent, but with zero GM jobs available right now, he could wind up as a consultant somewhere in 2016.
It’s going to be an interesting offseason in the six.
Update: Here’s a statement on the departure from outgoing president Paul Beeston.
Statement from Paul Beeston regarding Alex Anthopoulos pic.twitter.com/MLT2Ggpc0w
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) October 29, 2015
