In one of the more surprising outcomes for the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason, the front office added former Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos to the staff.
Anthopoulos was named the 2015 Sporting News’ Major League Baseball executive of the year. The 38 year old helped the Blue Jays make their first postseason appearance since 1993, when the franchise won the second of back-to-back World Series titles.
Now with the Dodgers, Anthopoulos will reside as the vice president of baseball operations, giving valued input to the open-minded team president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
With his official signing, Anthopoulos joins the likes of senior advisor Ned Colletti, senior vice president of baseball operations Josh Bynres, special advisor Gerry Hunsicker, current general manager Farhan Zaidi, and Friedman as former GMs now part of the Dodgers front office.
Anthopoulos was a revered target, drawing interest from multiple organizations after his abrupt departure from Toronto. Now in Los Angeles, Anthopoulos envisions himself settled for several years to come, according to Jon Weisman of Dodger Insider:
“My mindset was not on going somewhere short term,” he went on. “I don’t want to jump around. I’m not someone who does that. I commit to somewhere, and I give everything I have and I’m immersed in whatever I do. I think that was reflected with me sitting down with my wife and my family and me deciding to make California home, and to really, really commit to the community, commit to the organization. If things come up down the road, I’ll evaluate them as they come, but my focus is not on any other jobs. I would be thrilled if this is where I spent the next 20 years.”
As noted, Anthopoulos is moving his family out to California with him. His daily activities are expected to include meeting with Friedman and Zaidi in the Dodgers’ executive offices.
With yet another proven piece added to the organization, the Dodgers will receive expertise from another source in their quest to winning the illustrious World Series title that has evaded them since 1988.
