Aug 2, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Surrounded by his family, Cleveland Indians former player Jim Thome signs a one-day contract with Cleveland Indians president Mark Shapiro before the game between the Cleveland Indians and the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field. Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Indians president Mark Shapiro was named president and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays and the Rogers Centre following the completion of the 2015 season.
Shapiro will take over for Paul Beeston, the 70-year-old Jays president who previously announced his plan to retire.
“Through my 24 years as part of the Cleveland Indians, I have developed a deep emotional and civic attachment to the Indians organization and the Cleveland community,” Shapiro said Monday in a statement released by the Indians. “The root of those ties is in the personal relationships that my family and I have built.
“While weighing those bonds carefully and seriously, I feel the unique and compelling nature of the Blue Jays President/CEO position warranted my consideration. This position represents a unique opportunity for me and one that I felt was the right new challenge to undertake. With mixed emotions, I will assume the Toronto Blue Jays CEO position upon the conclusion of the 2015 season. As the Indians organization moves forward, I am confident the current leadership represents a strong foundation to field a championship caliber team moving forward. The relationships we have enjoyed here will be lifelong bonds and will ensure that I will always be a fan of the city of Cleveland and the Cleveland Indians organization.”
According to CBSSports.com, Shapiro plans to keep Alex Anthopoulos as the general manager of the American League East-leading Blue Jays.
Shapiro, 48, was selected the major leagues’ Executive of the Year twice while serving as the Indians’ general manager from 2001-10. Following the 2010 season, he became the team president.
Indians owner Paul Dolan said in a statement Monday that he “will not be seeking an external replacement” for Shapiro.
“Given the person that Mark is, the significant leadership and values that he has brought to the organization and with everything he has helped us accomplish, it will be extremely difficult to see him leave,” Dolan said. “However, I hope that this new challenge brings happiness and fulfillment for Mark and his family.
“As we move forward, I will not be seeking an external replacement for Mark and will continue to rely on the existing strong leadership group to guide us forward. Mark and I are confident that moving forward through this transition, we have a very strong foundation in place to build championship level success on and off the field.”
Beeston held the job of team president in Toronto from 1989-97 (during which the Blue Jays twice won the World Series) and then again since 2008.
The Blue Jays (74-56) are a major-league-best 29-10 since the All-Star break, allowing them to move from fourth place in the American League East to first place, 1 1/2 games in front of the New York Yankees.
The Indians (63-66) are 21-20 since the break. They are five games out of the second AL wild-card spot and 16 1/2 games behind the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central.
