The Alex Anthopoulos Era Is Over

Less than a week after the Toronto Blue Jays' magical 2015 season came to an end, so did Alex Anthopoulos' tenure with the organization.

In a stunning development, Anthopoulos—whose contract was set to expire this Saturday—resigned as general manager of the Blue Jays, a story that was first reported early Thursday morning. The team has since confirmed the news. President Paul Beeston praised Anthopoulos, while stating that he's reluctantly leaving the organization.

Rogers, the owner of the club, said in a statement that Anthopoulos turned down a five-year contract offer. The 38-year-old Canadian's exit from the club he's been GM for since 2009 was not over term-length or money, reports FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. All signs point to the exit revolving around the potential working dynamic between Anthopoulos and Mark Shapiro, who is set to officially take over as CEO and team president for Beeston in the coming days after more than two decades in the Cleveland Indians' organization.

Shapiro influence expected to be more on business. But Anthopoulos might have balked if he perceived that influence extending to baseball.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 29, 2015

Anthopoulos drastically revamped the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, making a number of significant deals that were instrumental in helping the club end a 22-year playoff drought and reach the postseason for the first time since 1993. Toronto parted ways with a number of highly-regarded prospects to acquire All-Stars Troy Tulowitzki and David Price, in addition to LaTroy Hawkins, Ben Revere and Mark Lowe. The Blue Jays took off after that, going on a 42-18 run to end the season, erasing a seven-game deficit in the AL East to leapfrog the New York Yankees and capture the division.

The Blue Jays then battled back from an 0-2 deficit to win their ALDS matchup against Texas Rangers before ultimately falling in six games to the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS.

Anthopoulos also acquired MVP-favourite Josh Donaldson from the Oakland A's in the offseason and signed Russell Martin to the richest free-agent deal in team history.

His tenure as GM began with three consecutive fourth-place finishes before the team came last during a disappointing 2013 season that followed blockbuster deals with the New York Mets and Miami Marlins. Toronto then contended for much of the 2014 season, but finished in third place.

Anthopoulos was promoted from assistant GM and replaced J.P. Ricciardi at the end of the 2009 season. He began his baseball career with the Montreal Expos before joining the Blue Jays in 2003.