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Report: Mark Shapiro to become Blue Jays President

By John Buhler

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. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
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. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to Baseball Insider Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, Cleveland Indians Team President Mark Shapiro will become the next Club President of the Toronto Blue Jays, replacing John Beeston.

Toronto Blue Jays president John Beeston, who is retiring at the end of year, is having a great time in his final season with the Jays as Toronto’s potent offense of Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion, and now Troy Tulowitzki have the team on the verge of ending a 22-year playoff drought, the longest in the MLB.

Mark Shapiro has been with the Cleveland Indians organization for what seems like forever, took over as Team President of the Indians this past decade after a long tenure as general manager.  The official announcement may not come until tomorrow or sometime next week, but Mark Shapiro intends to keep GM Alex Anthopoulos in his current position.

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It seems that a bigger media market and an expanded payroll are major reasons for Shapiro supposedly leaving the Indians in favor of the Blue Jays.  Toronto looks like a contending team for the next several seasons with their bats and improved pitching staff.  Cleveland has not looked the same since their 2013 wild card berth.

This deal in place comes on the heels of former Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski’s firing and new gig with the Boston Red Sox as President of Baseball Operations.  Toronto supposedly looked at Baltimore’s Dan Duquette last offseason but difficult Orioles owner Peter Angelos wouldn’t grant division rival Toronto an interview with Duquette.

By acquiring a great baseball mind like Shapiro, the Blue Jays could have as strong of a stretch, if not longer, than the early ’90s Jays featuring manager Cito Gaston and general manager Pat Gillick.  The smooth transition from Beeston to Shapiro could stand as a cornerstone in Toronto being a competitive team for the foreseeable future.

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