Blue Jays news: Mark Shapiro sticking around for another five years

The Toronto Blue Jays front office has already been active this offseason by making several moves to address the on-field product. Now, they've kept the ball rolling by extending the personnel within that office, as President and CEO Mark Shapiro has renewed his contract for a five-year term.

Blue Jays news: Mark Shapiro sticking around for another five years

In a media release sent out by Rogers Communications, the Chair of the company, Edward Rogers said, "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." Rogers went on to say, "...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."

It's a ringing endorsement for Shapiro who has been involved in Major League Baseball for over three decades, which started when he worked in player development with Cleveland in 1991. Shapiro has been in his current role with the Blue Jays since 2015 and has overseen some major milestones with the franchise.

Off the field, he has guided the team through a major stadium renovation. From the field, to the stands, to the suites, Rogers Centre has been completely remodeled over the last few years and there are more changes still to come. Anyone that has been to the stadium in since 2021 can't deny that those renovations have made Rogers Centre feel more like a modern baseball venue than at any other time in the facilities history.

On the field, Shapiro has been at the helm as the team has gone from contender, to rebuilder, back to contender again. Joining the franchise late in 2015, he was on hand for the Blue Jays first postseason appearance since their 1993 World Series championship. After bowing out in the ALCS in 2015, he hired Ross Atkins as the teams new general manager that winter - and together they built a roster that returned to the ALCS in 2016, but again fell short of their ultimate goal.

Several years of rebuilding and retooling followed, but from 2020 - 2025 the Blue Jays made it to the postseason four times, won one AL East division title, and one AL pennant. A decade into his tenure with the Blue Jays, the team looks to finally be making good on their promise of sustained success and an ever open competitive window.

Shapiro was also instrumental in the Blue Jays inking the biggest player contract in franchise history, as the team retained Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a 14-year $500 million extension, which some say was not just the biggest by dollar value, but the most important as it keeps the home grown star in a Blue Jays uniform what will likely be the entirety of his career.

If the Blue Jays keep winning, and stay competitive, Shapiro's five-year extension will be looked upon very fondly by the Toronto faithful.