Report: Blue Jays interview Royals executive Rene Francisco for GM job

The Toronto Blue Jays have interviewed Kansas City’s assistant GM of major league and international operations Rene Francisco for the vacant GM job.

The Toronto Blue Jays’ front office has looked towards Rene Francisco of the Kansas City Royals to take over Alex Anthopoulos for the full-time GM position. This was reported first by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

It was a cruel twist of irony when the Blue Jays’ front office fired former GM Alex Anthopoulos on the same day he won the Sporting News’ Executive of the Year. Not only did Anthopoulos’ blockbuster trades last season get the Blue Jays into the playoffs for the first time in 22 years, he also built a championship contender.

The Jays have since given Tony LaCava the interim GM title, but the club is still looking to find someone who can take the position full-time.

While Francisco is not Anthopoulos, he does come from an organization that just won a World Series. He joined the Royals in 2005 after previously working with the Atlanta Braves as the director of international scouting. His current title is the assistant GM of major-league and international operations, so Francisco knows a thing or two about finding top prospects. The best player Francisco scouted and signed is current Royals’ catcher and World Series MVP Salvador Perez – considering he’s one of the best catchers in the league, he’s only earning $7 million on a five-year contract meaning he’s in line for a big payday.

He was part of a front-office staff that built up a championship core over the course of ten years, and by coming to the Blue Jays he is inheriting a lot of elite-level players. He can also help find a suitable replacement if David Price leaves the team through free agency.

While the team is likely to weigh its options further, Francisco would be a more than suitable candidate to be the Blue Jays’ new full-time GM.