As if the Los Angeles Dodgers' management wasn't stacked enough, the latest rumors indicate the team is working to sign former Toronto Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos to undertake a role in the front office.
"The Dodgers also are expected to add Anthopoulos to their front office, although no announcement is imminent and no role has been finalized," writes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.
Anthopoulos' contract with the Blue Jays expired after the 2015 season and it was expected he'd receive a long-term deal after getting the franchise to the playoffs for the first time since 1993. However, the team hired former Cleveland Indians executive Mark Shapiro as their president and CEO back in August to take over for Paul Beeston. Rumors suggested Anthopoulos and Shapiro did not get off on the right foot upon Shapiro's arrival.
Reports said the Blue Jays' ownership gave Shapiro final say over personnel decisions, which is something Anthopoulos possessed during his time as general manager. Shapiro reportedly offered Anthopoulos a multi-year deal to stay in Toronto, but Anthopoulos rejected it and said it "wasn't the right fit."
He recently spoke to the media after having been out of the spotlight since he turned down the offer.
"I understand that I may not be a general manager again and I'm OK with that," Anthopoulos told the Canadian Press. "Now again, that's what my perspective is today. And obviously deciding not to sign an extension, I had to be prepared for that. I just think that all of the decisions I've made in my life, I never chased the money. You try to do what ultimately you feel is going to satisfy you and fulfil you. As simple as it sounds - and maybe this is naive - but normally success will follow."
It hasn't been the best offseason for the Dodgers. While they added pitchers Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda, they lost Zack Greinke, are expected to lose Howie Kendrick, and had deals fall through with Aroldis Chapman and Hisashi Iwakuma.
However, the addition of Anthopoulos will further empower an already bright front office and perhaps aid the team in making better personnel decisions. After all, Anthopoulos built the Blue Jays' farm system to become one of the best in the MLB and then orchestrated arguably the greatest set of trade deadline moves in MLB history this past July when he acquired Troy Tulowitzki, David Price and others.
Check back in for an official announcement from the Dodgers regarding Anthopoulos.
