BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Toronto Blue Jays are giving interim general manager Tony LaCava a contract extension, ensuring that he’ll remain an integral part of their leadership group whether or not he ends up in the GM’s job on a permanent basis.
LaCava, acting as the club’s point man at the GM meetings, served as the No. 2 executive under Alex Anthopoulos after joining the Blue Jays after the 2002 season as an assistant to then GM J.P. Ricciardi.
New team president Mark Shapiro’s decision to extend him provides some stability after the unexpected upheaval caused by Anthopoulos’ departure, and positions LaCava as a legitimate contender for the GM job. The extension was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and confirmed by Sportsnet.
“I’m open to it,” LaCava said of taking on the GM role permanently before word of his extension broke Tuesday. “I really enjoy Mark, I really enjoyed working with him in the past, and I know I’ll enjoy working with him again. I want the best guy we can get to lead our team. If I’m that guy, then so be it. If not, I’m fine with that, and I know we’re going to make a good decision however it’s decided.”
