CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians President Mark Shapiro is leaving the club after this season to run Toronto’s front office.
Shapiro, who has had several prominent roles in his 24 season with Cleveland, will become the Blue Jays’ next president and CEO. He said he’s taking on a “unique opportunity” with mixed emotions.
Shapiro will replace Toronto CEO Paul Beeston, who is retiring. The Blue Jays have been looking for a top executive for months.
“Mark is a seasoned baseball veteran, whose leadership, drive for excellence and commitment to all aspects of the game is impressive,” Blue Jays Chairman Edward Rogers said. “We have confidence that he is the right person to lead the Toronto Blue Jays into the future and build upon the franchise’s legacy.”
Shapiro has been with Cleveland since 1992, when he began as an assistant in baseball operations. He spent four years as the team’s minor league director and three as vice president before becoming general manager in 2001. The Indians made the playoffs twice with Shapiro calling the shots before he took over as team president in 2010.
“I really spent exactly half my life here,” Shapiro said. “That’s incredible. It’s hard to imagine the path this has been, the journey it has been.”
Shapiro said the decision to leave Cleveland is difficult, and owner Paul Dolan said he will not look for a replacement.
Dolan said the president’s responsibilities will be spread among other front-office members. Also, Shapiro’s departure will not affect GM Chris Antonetti or Manager Terry Francona, who said he will not use an opt-out clause in his contract to get out of his deal.
“Given the person that Mark is, the significant leadership and values that he has brought to the organization and with everything he has helped us accomplish, it will be extremely difficult to see him leave,” Dolan said.
Entering Monday night’s game, the Indians had won five consecutive games to move back into the American League wild-card picture.
CUBS-MARINERS
Chicago gets Seattle OF
HOUSTON — The Chicago Cubs acquired outfielder Austin Jackson from the Seattle Mariners on Monday, boosting their depth for their run at a possible playoff spot.
Chicago sent a player to be named and money for an international draft slot to the Mariners.
Because the deal was made before Sept. 1, Jackson will be eligible for the postseason if the Cubs get that far. Chicago began the day with a 5½-game lead over San Francisco for the second National League wild-card berth.
Jackson had been set to bat leadoff and play center field Monday night at Houston. He was scratched from the lineup more than hour before gametime.
Jackson, 28, was traded from Detroit to the Mariners in July 2014. He was hitting .272 with 8 home runs and 38 RBI in 107 games this season.
The Cubs have been using Dexter Fowler in center field. He’s been banged up some, and Jackson could help improve the Cubs’ defense, maybe as a late-inning replacement in left field for Kyle Schwarber.
Jeff Kingston, the Mariners’ interim general manager, announced the trade Monday night.
“Obviously we would prefer to be buyers than sellers at this point, but I think for us and the Seattle Mariners at this point in time, it’s more about the future, looking ahead and trying to balance the short-term with the long-term,” he said.
Kingston took over last week after GM Jack Zduriencik was fired. The Mariners have had a disappointing season and were 61-70 when they made the trade.
Kingston said one of the benefits of the trade is Brad Miller will get more time in center field.
“I think we’d like to see quite a bit of it,” Kingston said. “I just spoke to [Mariners Manager] Lloyd [McClendon] about it, and I think that at this point in time that’s probably his best fit for this organization going forward. We think he has the components and skillset to play out there. If he can play out there, it’s a huge asset to this organization.”
YANKEES
Teixeira sent home
BOSTON — The New York Yankees have sent first baseman Mark Teixeira back to New York for further tests on his bruised right shin.
Manager Joe Girardi made the announcement before the Yankees played the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a three-game series Monday night at Fenway Park in Boston.
“He woke up today and he was still sore, so we sent him back to kind of just redo the test to make sure,” Girardi said.
Teixeira missed the entire three-game weekend series in Atlanta against the Braves. He is hitting .255 with 31 home runs and 79 RBI.
RAYS
Rookie suspended 50 games
NEW YORK — A minor league outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays has been suspended 50 games for a drug violation. The commissioner’s office said Monday that Jeremy Hadley, 20, had been penalized after testing positive for an amphetamine. Hadley was on the roster of the rookie level Gulf Coast League Rays.