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Toronto Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro has signed a five-year contract extension, Rogers Communications announced Friday.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
The extension comes on the heels of the Blue Jays' first World Series appearance since 1993.
Toronto defeated the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series and beat the Seattle Mariners in the AL Championship Series before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Fall Classic.
Shapiro, 58, was named president and CEO of the Blue Jays after the 2015 season, succeeding the retiring Paul Beeston. Shapiro spent 24 seasons with the Cleveland Guardians, including the last five years as team president.
Ross Atkins, who worked under Shapiro in Cleveland, was named general manager of the Blue Jays in December 2015. Atkins is signed through the 2026 campaign.
“The opportunity to lead the Blue Jays organization for the past 10 years has been incredibly rewarding,” Shapiro said in a press release. “Together we have built an organization with people who care deeply about baseball and are very proud to be Team Canada. I am grateful and honored to continue this work.”
Shapiro and Atkins led the Blue Jays to an ALCS appearance in 2016. Toronto struggled the following year and hit rock bottom in '18 and '19 as the team began to rebuild around young players like Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
That process began to bear fruit in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The Blue Jays returned to the playoffs that year, but lost in the wild card series.
“Exceptional Leadership”
Shapiro signed a five-year contract extension in January 2021. Toronto just missed the playoffs that year and lost in the first round in '22 and again in '23.
The Blue Jays finished last in the Eastern Division standings in '24 and then rebounded with 94 wins in '25. Toronto won the East title and had home field advantage in the postseason.
“Mark’s exceptional leadership has been the driving force behind the Blue Jays’ success and we are thrilled that he will continue to lead our team and build on its incredible momentum,” said Edward Rogers, Chairman of the Toronto Blue Jays and Executive Chairman of Rogers Communications. “As the proud owners of Team Canada, we are excited to work with Mark and his team to provide them with the tools and resources they need to bring World Series championships back to Canada.”
The extension comes during a busy offseason for the Blue Jays, who this week signed right-handed pitcher Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 million contract in the United States and handed ace Dylan Keyes seven years and $210 million.
Off the field, Shapiro was involved in the multi-year, $300 million renovation of Rogers Center. Changes to the stadium included raised bullpens, upgraded seating sections, a new outfield wall and more bars and restaurants.
He also oversaw a major renovation of the Blue Jays' spring training headquarters in Dunedin, Florida. Now this building is considered one of the best in the major league.
During Shapiro's tenure, the Guardians (then called the Indians) made the playoffs eight times, including two World Series appearances.
Following the 2005 and 2007 seasons, Shapiro was named the Sporting News Executive of the Year.
Shapiro began his career with Cleveland in 1992 as a baseball assistant. The Baltimore native graduated from Princeton University in 1989 with a degree in history.
