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Mark Shapiro has been with the Toronto Blue Jays since the end of the 2015 season.Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press
The Toronto Blue Jays may not have yet secured free agent Bo Bichette or other key on-field personnel for next season, but the man overseeing the operation will be coming back, after Rogers Communications Inc. announced on Friday it has renewed the contract of Mark Shapiro as president and CEO of the team for the next five years.
“Mark’s exceptional leadership has been a driving force behind the Blue Jays success, and we’re thrilled he will continue to lead our team and build on their incredible momentum,” said Edward Rogers, the chair of the Blue Jays and the executive chair of Rogers, said in a statement announcing the contract renewal. “We are excited to work with Mark and his team to give them the tools and resources they need to bring World Series championships back to Canada.”
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Shapiro joined the Jays at the end of the 2015 season. He hired general manager Ross Atkins and has overseen a years-long renovation of the Rogers Centre and the team’s training facility in Dunedin, Fla., which, along with the Jays’ run to the World Series, has helped attract top on-field talent.
“Under Mark’s leadership, the Blue Jays have become a benchmark for excellence in Major League Baseball,” said Tony Staffieri, the president and CEO of Rogers, in a statement.
Mr. Shapiro said he’s grateful and honoured to be able to continue to lead the Jays. “Together we have built an organization with people who care deeply about baseball and take immense pride in being Canada’s team,” he said in a statement.
