Mark Shapiro: Indians will 'always be a part of me'

The Toronto Blue Jays officially announced Monday that Mark Shapiro will take over as team president, replacing Paul Beeston, at the season's end.

Shapiro spent 24 years with the Cleveland Indians in several capacities, including general manager and club president. He was sentimental about the organization that gave him his break when he spoke to media in a press conference on Monday.

"This opportunity for me is the right challenge, at the right time of my life," Shapiro told reporters. "It's with mixed emotions because of the history here and how I feel about Cleveland that I'm also excited to take on this challenge and opportunity."

The two-time Executive of the Year began his career with the Indians in 1992. He expressed his gratitude to the organization as well as the city of Cleveland, which offered him and his family a home for over two decades.

"The city, the friendships we shared, this organization, wherever I am, wherever I go, will always be a part of me," said the executive. "Twenty-four years doesn't get set aside, it becomes part of what you carry with you every single day. I met my wife here, we raised our kids here. I'll leave with this being part of my personal and professional foundation."

Before making the decision to leave for Toronto, Shapiro says he wanted to ensure the right people were in place to give the Indians the best chance possible for future success.

"I feel good about the leadership in place - extremely good about it," he said. "It's a strong group of people who are mature, who understand the challenges in place, and have committed to both the values that bond them together and to the strategies that are going to help them overcome those challenges and most importantly the challenge that they're going to overcome in a way that's going to bring a championship to the city of Cleveland.

"I think the foundation is in place and when that championship happens, regardless of where I am, believe me, I will celebrate with you. There'll be a piece of me that celebrates with this organization and with this city."