Mark Shapiro speaks to the media as he is introduced as president of the Toronto Blue Jays during a press conference on November 2, 2015 at Rogers Centre in Toronto.Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Mark Shapiro says it will be business as usual for the Toronto Blue Jays, even without Alex Anthopoulos.
Shapiro was introduced as the team's new president and chief executive officer Monday, days after former general manager Anthopoulos declined to sign a new contract.
Anthopoulos was a popular figure in Toronto, particularly after his trade deadline deals that netted stars David Price and Troy Tulowitzki helped the Jays reach the playoffs for the first time in 22 years.
His decision to leave the team at the height of its resurgence was deeply unpopular with Blue Jay fans, making for a somewhat awkward introduction for Shapiro.
"Not the transition originally expected," Shapiro said to open his news conference.
With the notable exceptions of Anthopoulos and Paul Beeston, whom Shapiro replaces as president, Shapiro seems intent on retaining much of the Jays' front office and team management "in the spirit of continuity and building off the incredible foundation that Alex put in place."
He said John Gibbons will be back as manager, and Tony LaCava, Anthopoulos's assistant last season, was promoted to interim GM while a search for a permanent replacement takes place. Shapiro also said other members of the front-office staff will be offered a chance to return.
Some media reports last week suggested that Shapiro was unhappy that Anthopoulos gave up numerous blue-chip prospects at the trade deadline. While Shapiro dismissed reports that he "scolded" Anthopoulos, he indicated that there will be long-term issues to deal with as a result of the deadline-day dealing.
"In every decision there's a balance," he said. "There's risk/reward, there's short-term and long-term. In this case clearly the short-term benefit of those trades is absolutely apparent and was tremendous. At the same point there are challenges that come with trading players and those challenges, I think, need to become part of a long-term strategy."
Shapiro said he hoped Anthopoulos would stay in Toronto, but respected the former GM's decision to move on.
"It was my sincere hope that I would have the chance to learn from him and to partner with him and to work with him," Shapiro said. "Yet he's obviously earned the right to make the decision he made."