Alex Anthopoulos is departing the Toronto Blue Jays organization after rejecting a five-year contract extension, leaving incoming team president and CEO Mark Shapiro in control.
Anthopoulos' six-year tenure as GM included some regrettable decisions, but his moves at the trade deadline this summer transformed the Jays from a competitive club into a World Series contender before their defeat at the hands of the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS.
Here are his five best moves as Blue Jays GM:
DONALDSON FOR LAWRIE
He acquired Josh Donaldson, an MVP candidate, from the Oakland Athletics in November 2014 for Brett Lawrie, pitchers Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin, and minor-league infielder Franklin Barreto.
Donaldson slashed .297/.371/.568 with 41 home runs, an AL-best 123 RBIs and a major league-leading 122 runs scored in his first season with Toronto, while adding spectacular defense at third base.
Lawrie had a decent campaign with the A's, but Graveman and Nolin weren't particularly impressive for their new club.
THE PRICE BLOCKBUSTER
Anthopoulos made several impactful moves at the 2015 non-waiver trade deadline, but landing the 2012 Cy Young Award winner from the Detroit Tigers was the biggest.
Price was acquired in exchange for pitching prospects Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd, and Jairo Labourt, giving the Blue Jays their first bona fide ace since Roy Halladay.
The five-time All-Star went 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and 87 strikeouts in 74 1/3 innings over 11 regular-season starts after the trade, helping Toronto clinch the AL East Division title.
SWAPPING SHORTSTOPS
Two days before landing Price, Anthopoulos traded oft-injured shortstop Jose Reyes and three pitching prospects to the Colorado Rockies for Troy Tulowitzki and veteran relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins.
The Blue Jays parted with Miguel Castro, Jeff Hoffman, and Jesus Tinoco to upgrade at the shortstop position and add depth to their bullpen.
Tulowitzki was ultimately hampered by injuries himself, but the move improved Toronto's infield defense and added punch to an already explosive lineup.
EXTENDING BAUTISTA, ENCARNACION
Signing franchise cornerstones Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion to team-friendly contract extensions cemented the middle of the lineup for the long term.
Bautista agreed to a five-year, $64-million deal in 2011, and Encarnacion inked a three-year, $27-million extension in the summer of 2012. Encarnacion's deal includes a team option worth $16 million for 2016.
Getting two of the American League's best hitters at reasonable prices assisted the club in its efforts to sign catcher Russell Martin to a five-year, $82-million deal last November.
DRAFTING MARCUS STROMAN
The excitable right-handed starter made an immediate impact upon being summoned to the majors two years after being selected 22nd overall in 2012. In 2014, he went 11-6 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.17 WHIP and racked up 111 strikeouts in 130-plus innings.
Stroman tore his ACL last spring but returned to make four regular-season starts and three playoff appearances. He'll be the club's de facto ace if Price elects not to re-sign in free agency.
