Blue Jays to name Indians executive Ross Atkins new GM

Shapiro served as the Indians’ general manager from 2001 through 2010 and president from 2010 through 2015. Tony LaCava, who had been interim GM after Anthopoulos declined to return, will stay in the organization as senior VP of baseball operations and assistant GM.

Atkins pitched in the Cleveland organization before joining its front office. IBI’s Tony Lastoria gave more insight into the systematic approach Atkins took with the Indians player development in an interview during the 2014 Spring Training.

Atkins will be reunited with Toronto CEO Mark Shapiro, his longtime boss in Cleveland. Atkins, 42, has a previous working relationship with team president Mark Shapiro throughout their days in Cleveland. He became the director of player development in 2007 before being promoted to vice-president of player development in 2011. Their postseason ended with a loss to Kansas City in the AL Championship Series. Shapiro has a longstanding professional relationship with Atkins and for that reason Atkins’ appointment as Blue Jays’ GM was expected following Anthopoulos’ surprising departure at the end of October. He was named executive of the year on the day he announced his decision. Executives don’t usually leave their respective clubs to make a lateral move, which made the Jays vacant GM position a great opportunity for Shapiro to add another piece to his front office.

So far this off-season, the Blue Jays have re-signed Marco Estrada, acquired Jesse Chavez from Oakland and signed J.A. Happ to bolster the rotation.

The Blue Jays will introduce Atkins at a press conference in Toronto on Friday.