Shapiro goes with Atkins as new Blue Jays’ general manager

UPDATE: The Blue Jays announced the hiring of Atkins and the promotion of LaCava.

Former Indians manager Eric Wedge is also a candidate to join the Blue Jays’ front office in some capacity, per Fox Sport’s Ken Rosenthal.

The Toronto Blue Jays named longtime Cleveland Indians executive Ross Atkins the sixth full-time general manager in team history Thursday, choosing him over finalist Tony LaCava to succeed Alex Anthopoulos under new president and CEO Mark Shapiro. Jordan Bastian of MLB.com confirmed the news. Atkins worked his way up through the organizational ranks to his current position.

Atkins worked under Shapiro for 14 years in Cleveland.

Dannon Ross Atkins was born on August 7, 1973 in Greensboro, North Carolina and he was drafted by the Indians in the 38th round of the 1995 draft.

Billy Beane in Oakland, Andrew Friedman in Los Angeles and Theo Epstein in Chicago are all examples of former general managers who have recently risen to the role of president while still maintaining control over baseball operations.

Now, if you ask me, it seems as if the Blue Jays are taking a colossal step backward. Toronto advanced to the American League Championship Series before falling to the Kansas City Royals in six games.

The 81-80 Indians finished third in the American League Central last season while the 93-69 Blue Jays won the East and made their first playoff appearance in 22 years. Anthopoulos declined an extension in October, citing concerns over the “fit” with Shapiro. He will reportedly remain with the team “as an integral part of the club’s decision-making process”, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.