TORONTO – Paul Beeston will remain president and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays past the Oct. 31 expiration of his contract, as he and the club are believed to be working toward a two-year extension.
The 67-year-old from Welland, Ont., agreed to a three-year deal in October 2009 after spending the previous 12 months in the role on an interim basis while searching for Paul Godfrey’s successor.
Initially reluctant to take the position on permanently, Beeston said Tuesday that he’s "committed to seeing this thing through," although he refused to put any sort of time frame on that.
"We’re in discussion, but if there’s something to let you know, I’ll let you know," said Beeston. "Honest to God, I’ve never worked under contract before, other than this one. I don’t buy into contracts, if I do my job, I do my job, if they want to get rid of me, they get rid of me, if I want to leave, I leave. Simple as that. It’s on a day-to-day basis, and I expect to be here Nov. 1."
Having stability above general manager Alex Anthopoulos is of particular importance to the Blue Jays this winter given their intentions of augmenting the roster, in part, through free agency.
Agents and players want to know that any potential commitments made to them this winter won’t be undone by a possible new, incoming executive in the months ahead and Anthopoulos can make moves without fear of the rug being pulled out from under him next fall.
Whether or not the Blue Jays will announce Beeston’s extension once done isn’t certain, as the contractual status of both Anthopoulos and manager John Farrell, who last month revealed that his deal expires after the 2013 season, have never been detailed by the club.
The first employee hired by the club, during his first tenure as team president the Blue Jays operated on a year-to-year basis with its employees, which is why he says of his expiring contract, "I never read it, I don’t even know what’s in it, I mean, I really don’t care. We’re here to do a job. I work day-to-day."
Still, that the team wants him back and that he wants to continue on is significant, whether the two-year term is acknowledged or not.
"How long, how far, I have no idea, but I expect to be here. We’ve got a job to do and the last time I looked we were in fourth place," said Beeston, who continues to enjoy his role with the club. "I like the people I’m working with, I like the people I’m working for, and I’m committed to seeing this thing through."
