Bart Scott agreed to sign with Ravens while in bathroom of Browns facility
December 3, 2015Coldplay at the Super Bowl, Mike Polk, By Light We Loom and more: While We’re Waiting…
December 4, 2015Cleveland Indians vice president of player personnel Ross Atkins has been hired into the Toronto Blue Jays general manager position according to MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. The other finalist was the Blue Jays interim general manager Tony LaCava.
Can confirm reports that Ross Atkins, Indians VP of player personnel, is taking the Blue Jays general manager job.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) December 3, 2015
The Toronto GM position will be the first time in Atkins professional career he will work outside the Indians organization. Atkins was drafted as a pitcher out of Wake Forest in the 38th round of the 1995 MLB Amateur Draft and spent five seasons in the Indians minor league system. He reached the Double A level in Akron before transitioning into a front office job in 1999. Atkins worked his way up through the organizational ranks to his current position.
Of course, Atkins will retain some semblance of stability even in Toronto as he has also worked for Mark Shapiro his entire career, who is now the president of baseball operations for the Blue Jays.
Shapiro is reportedly also considering former Indians and Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge for a front office position of some kind.
Earlier this offseason, the Indians promoted Chris Antonetti and Mike Chernoff with many suspecting it was done in part to protect them from being similarly poached by Shapiro.
Atkins though has been a relatively hot name on the general manager front this offseason as he also was a contender for the Los Angeles Angels general manager position after being interviewed. Atkins received respect throughout the MLB community from the large turnaround in the Indians minor league farm system after he took over as director of player development in 2006. 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.
To fill Atkins role, the Indians likely will turn to their player development staff to replace him. Carter Hawkins has admirably filled Atkins previous position of director of player development, which has included bolstering the Indians connections with the research-based development community. And, the player development side of the Indians would still be in the capable hands of Eric Binder, who has worked beside Hawkins since being hired from the Texas Baseball Ranch.
The Indians might as well hire from within to back-fill positions as the rest of MLB sure seem to constantly be after their front office members.
15 Comments
To bad he didn’t poach Larry Dolan!
I heard Eric Wedge’s name mentioned with Toronto as well but I didn’t hear in what capacity. I’m assuming Shapiro hired him too.
Executive Vice President of Grinders
I have to say, this is a prime example why reading intelligent blogs is exponentially better than MSM. Well done reporting, thanks.
The linked article on 2014 spring training was excellent, and shows why this guy is a loss for the Tribe and a key addition for Shapiro. However, I agree with the premise, promote from within if you already have the discipline and culture. God knows the Browns have neither (which is why I dont understand why this FO gets a bad rap).
Thank you, appreciate the kind words and agree on the organizational stability and culture being healthy with this particular Cleveland team.
15 years and 1 playoff appearance – good riddance to he and Shapiro
Grand Poobah of Guys-Who-Play-The-Game-The-Right-Way ™.
I take it you don’t count the 2013 Wild Card game?
Couldn’t agree more. Fans blast this front office, but their stability and consistent approach has been one of the best in pro sports. Just imagine how bad the Indians would be if we had a Browns structure. With the limited resources and awful fan support, I just don’t understand the criticism.
nope – a one game “playoff” to get into the playoffs doesnt count
Yea but what about organizational stability and culture being healthy as Mr. Bode says?
Yet it counts according to MLB and all the players who get a postseason share.
I’m sure he doesn’t watch March Madness, the NFL playoffs, the World Cup or Olympic basketball either, so it’s all good.
ok mark – if you want to count a 4 hour, play in baseball game as “getting to the playoffs” go for it.
I’m not sure who Mark is, but when the people in charge call it something, I’m not going to go with the guy chugging Stroh’s on his couch yelling at the tv.