Mark Shapiro a "strong candidate" to replace Beeston

[spikeslovechild]

I'd prefer to get Rizzo or someone with a solid background as a scout. Particularly, if AA leaves.

The last thing I would want is for Mark Shapiro to hire his "guy" and for that guy to be another Chris Antonetti.

[spikeslovechild]

A little Mark Shapiro trade history: (Very good)

Traded Casey Blake for Carlos Santana
Traded Sabathia for Michael Brantley
Traded Cliff Lee for Carlos Carrasco
Traded Bartolo Colon for Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips and Cliff Lee
Traded Ben Broussard for Shin-Soo Choo

I'll updated his drafting history tomorrow (unless someone beats me to it)

His draft record isn't particularly strong. However, that's largely irrelevant for the job he'd be assuming; as President he'd help to set the overall strategy and sign off on certain things, but he wouldn't be making draft picks nor initiating trades.

But as a guy who knows baseball but whose primary focus would be liaising with the board, working on the business/infrastructure side, and providing cover for the GM, he's just about perfect.

Well the track record of late has been spotty. Does he wear the Bourn and Swisher signings? How about the disaster of the Ubaldo trade? The Chris Archer for Mark DeRosa deal? Andy Marte for Coco Crisp deal? The Hafner extension?

I also wouldn't characterize the Sabathia deal as some sort of win for Shapiro. Brentley was not the key piece of the deal the Indians could have had him for alot cheaper then CC.

[Jays4WS]

A little Mark Shapiro trade history: (Very good)

Traded Casey Blake for Carlos Santana
Traded Sabathia for Michael Brantley
Traded Cliff Lee for Carlos Carrasco
Traded Bartolo Colon for Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips and Cliff Lee
Traded Ben Broussard for Shin-Soo Choo

I'll updated his drafting history tomorrow (unless someone beats me to it)

His draft record isn't particularly strong. However, that's largely irrelevant for the job he'd be assuming; as President he'd help to set the overall strategy and sign off on certain things, but he wouldn't be making draft picks nor initiating trades.

But as a guy who knows baseball but whose primary focus would be liaising with the board, working on the business/infrastructure side, and providing cover for the GM, he's just about perfect.

Well the track record of late has been spotty. Does he wear the Bourn and Swisher signings? How about the disaster of the Ubaldo trade? The Chris Archer for Mark DeRosa deal? Andy Marte for Coco Crisp deal? The Hafner extension?

I also wouldn't characterize the Sabathia deal as some sort of win for Shapiro. Brentley was not the key piece of the deal the Indians could have had him for alot cheaper then CC.

Corey Kluber offsets that trade.

[Schad]

Well the track record of late has been spotty. Does he wear the Bourn and Swisher signings? How about the disaster of the Ubaldo trade? The Chris Archer for Mark DeRosa deal? Andy Marte for Coco Crisp deal? The Hafner extension?

I also wouldn't characterize the Sabathia deal as some sort of win for Shapiro. Brentley was not the key piece of the deal the Indians could have had him for alot cheaper then CC.

Most of those moves happened after Antonetti took over as GM (the Chris Archer one certainly smarts, though it's worth noting that he was a complete mess when traded, and bounced between being a highly-rated prospect and Nuke LaLoosh for several years thereafter before rounding into form), and I cannot stress this enough: the President should not be making trades or draft picks. If they are making trades or draft picks, the organization's structure is a bit of a mess and your GM is almost assuredly looking for an exit. They help set overall strategy, they make business decisions, and they serve as the conduit for the chairman/board to the GM and vice versa...it's a position where reputation matters an awful lot, because they're the ones who'll have to convince the money men to commit to a direction. And Shapiro's reputation is excellent; he can speak the language of ownership while being unlikely to put his GM in an untenable position. That's what makes him a better candidate, IMO, than a Dombrowski. He's a baseball guy who is deeply versed in the financial side, which is what we need...we don't need two GMs.

[JoeyBats]

As team president Shapiro has busied himself with renovating Progressive Field, establishing a ticket pricing plan and making an Indians game a family-friendly event. The renovation of the center and right field sections of the ballpark was completed before the start of this season and has been a big hit even though the Indians have a losing record and rank 29th among MLB's 30 teams in attendance. The area behind home plate is scheduled for renovation this winter.

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2015/08/why_would_mark_shapiro_leave_c.html

Looks like he would be fine as the president, and leaves AA alone.

[spikeslovechild]

Well the track record of late has been spotty. Does he wear the Bourn and Swisher signings? How about the disaster of the Ubaldo trade? The Chris Archer for Mark DeRosa deal? Andy Marte for Coco Crisp deal? The Hafner extension?

I also wouldn't characterize the Sabathia deal as some sort of win for Shapiro. Brentley was not the key piece of the deal the Indians could have had him for alot cheaper then CC.

Most of those moves happened after Antonetti took over as GM (the Chris Archer one certainly smarts, though it's worth noting that he was a complete mess when traded, and bounced between being a highly-rated prospect and Nuke LaLoosh for several years thereafter before rounding into form), and I cannot stress this enough: the President should not be making trades or draft picks. If they are making trades or draft picks, the organization's structure is a bit of a mess and your GM is almost assuredly looking for an exit. They help set overall strategy, they make business decisions, and they serve as the conduit for the chairman/board to the GM and vice versa...it's a position where reputation matters an awful lot, because they're the ones who'll have to convince the money men to commit to a direction. And Shapiro's reputation is excellent; he can speak the language of ownership while being unlikely to put his GM in an untenable position. That's what makes him a better candidate, IMO, than a Dombrowski. He's a baseball guy who is deeply versed in the financial side, which is what we need...we don't need two GMs.

Dombrowski did that in Detroit. My main concern with him or whomever they bring in is what happens at GM. I'm not opposed to AA leaving but I'd like to see him replaced with someone better.

For example there is talk of the Redsox bringing in Frank Wen. As a fan of their team that would terrify me.

My candidate is Mike Rizzo. He is already President and GM of the Nationals. Has a scouting background, makes unbelievable trades, and has FO experience he checks all the boxes for me.

[spikeslovechild]

Well the track record of late has been spotty. Does he wear the Bourn and Swisher signings? How about the disaster of the Ubaldo trade? The Chris Archer for Mark DeRosa deal? Andy Marte for Coco Crisp deal? The Hafner extension?

I also wouldn't characterize the Sabathia deal as some sort of win for Shapiro. Brentley was not the key piece of the deal the Indians could have had him for alot cheaper then CC.

Most of those moves happened after Antonetti took over as GM (the Chris Archer one certainly smarts, though it's worth noting that he was a complete mess when traded, and bounced between being a highly-rated prospect and Nuke LaLoosh for several years thereafter before rounding into form), and I cannot stress this enough: the President should not be making trades or draft picks. If they are making trades or draft picks, the organization's structure is a bit of a mess and your GM is almost assuredly looking for an exit. They help set overall strategy, they make business decisions, and they serve as the conduit for the chairman/board to the GM and vice versa...it's a position where reputation matters an awful lot, because they're the ones who'll have to convince the money men to commit to a direction. And Shapiro's reputation is excellent; he can speak the language of ownership while being unlikely to put his GM in an untenable position. That's what makes him a better candidate, IMO, than a Dombrowski. He's a baseball guy who is deeply versed in the financial side, which is what we need...we don't need two GMs.

Dombrowski did that in Detroit. My main concern with him or whomever they bring in is what happens at GM. I'm not opposed to AA leaving but I'd like to see him replaced with someone better.

For example there is talk of the Redsox bringing in Frank Wen. As a fan of their team that would terrify me.

My candidate is Mike Rizzo. He is already President and GM of the Nationals. Has a scouting background, makes unbelievable trades, and has FO experience he checks all the boxes for me.

[-MetA4-]

Sources coming from Cleveland saying that a decision one way or the other will come "soon", likely within the next few days.


http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2015/08/indians_mark_shapiro_terry_fra.html

[polo007]

According to CBS Sports MLB insider Jon Heyman, Mark Shapiro, the current Cleveland Indians' president, is believed to be the first choice at present to replace Paul Beeston as president of the Toronto Blue Jays, and assuming a deal can be struck, it is believed he will go to Toronto. The strong expectation around the game is that he will indeed make the move, although nothing seems to be set in stone to this point.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/25283237/inside-baseball-keys-to-cubs-success-plus-more-mlb-news-and-notes

Mark Shapiro, the Indians' president, is believed to be the first choice at present to replace Paul Beeston as president of the Blue Jays, and assuming a deal can be struck, it is believed he will go to Toronto. The strong expectation around the game is that he will indeed make the move, although nothing seems to be set in stone to this point. Shapiro received permission from his current team to meet with the Jays, so under those conditions it doesn't seem likely he'd turn down the job. The well-respected Shapiro, 48, has been with the Indians 23 years, previously serving as GM, assistant GM and farm director. Beyond Toronto being a new challenge, perhaps Shapiro would like a chance with a higher payroll; the Blue Jays' payroll is about $130 million while the Indians are in the bottom third of the league at about $80 million. There is no word than anyone else is currently in the mix for the job. Over the winter, the Jays targeted Orioles GM Dan Duquette, who has done a terrific job in Baltimore, but Orioles owner Peter Angelos made the unusual call to deny the Jays permission to speak to Duquette. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com first reported that Shapiro is a "strong" candidate in Toronto. Shapiro declined to comment

[-MetA4-]

No idea how credible this guy is...

Mike Melaragno
‏@melaragno_22
Mark Shapiro will become the President and CEO of the Toronto #Bluejays. It should be made official tomorrow or Monday... #TribeLive

[The Flying Gent]

There's also an insider of sorts on the Indian's subreddit that claims it's happening and he wasn't laughed out by the regulars there who know him.

So, for whatever that's worth (very little, of course).

I like the idea. Blair claims AA and Shapiro have a good rapport and Shapiro seems to have moved on to a business-side focused stage of his career. Looks like a good fit.

[Randle McMurphy]

There's also an insider of sorts on the Indian's subreddit that claims it's happening and he wasn't laughed out by the regulars there who know him.

So, for whatever that's worth (very little, of course).

I like the idea. Blair claims AA and Shapiro have a good rapport and Shapiro seems to have moved on to a business-side focused stage of his career. Looks like a good fit.

While that may be true, it's still going to be perceived as undercutting AA (due to Shapiro's baseball background). There would seem to be some potential there for an awkward situation considering how well this team is doing right now.

Seems like the best timing for something like this would be after the season, but I guess they may not have a choice if they really want him.