Now this is a shocker. Toronto Blue Jays General Manager Alex Anthopoulos, whose bold acquisitions of Troy Tulowitzki and David Price, led the the team to the AL East title and their first post-season appearance since 1993, is leaving the team.
Anthopoulos has evidently resigned because of differences with new team President Mark Shapiro who is replacing the retiring Paul Beeston. Shapiro, who had been the President of the Cleveland Indians since 2010 and with the Tribe since 1991, wanted total control over personnel decisions notwithstanding Anthopoulos’ success.
I have no doubt Anthopoulos will land on his feet somewhere, but this is a bad omen for the Jays. If Anthopoulos is gone one wonders if Jays manager John Gibbons’ days are numbered. It was Anthopoulos who gave Gibbons a second chance to manage the Jays in 2013 after a less than distinctive stint as manager between 2004 and 2008. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that Shapiro will want his own guy in the dugout. Obviously the Jays are now Shapiro’s team but there could be a price to pay namely not being able to re-sign Price.
With these developments I am inclined to think the Jays will not make the post-season in 2016.