Blue Jays hire Indians’ Ross Atkins as new GM

National Post baseball writer John Lott confirmed the move with a source in the Blue Jays organization.

LaCava, a member of Toronto’s front office since October 2002, had been serving as interim GM and received a promotion to senior vice-president of baseball operations and assistant general manager.

Mark Shapiro has made another executive decision as the new CEO and president of the Toronto Blue Jays. Sports points out, the hiring of Atkins represents the 13th team to change general managers since last year’s Winter Meetings in San Diego.

Cleveland Indians general manager Mark Shapiro speaks at a news conference Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, in Cleveland.

After 15 years working in the Cleveland Indians’ front office, Ross Atkins will be the Blue Jays’ GM. The former pitcher was drafted by Cleveland in 1995 and spent his entire pro career with the Indians organization. He worked with team’s pitching prospects before becoming the assistant farm director in 2001. It was previously known Atkins was interviewing for the position.

It’s not often a team that reaches the ALCS goes through such a seismic organizational shakeup, but that’s precisely what happened with the Blue Jays. Anthopolous, who was named Sporting News’ Executive of the Year, helped the Blue Jays end their 22-year postseason drought in 2015 behind his slew of midseason acquisitions. Ace David Price was lost to free agency, with the Boston Red Sox expected to announce his signing Friday.