Today marks 15 years since the Blue Jays fired JP Ricciardi
Photo credit: Athletics nation
Today marks the 15 year anniversary of the Blue Jays deciding to part way with general manager JP Ricciardi which would eventually be a huge move for the organization as Alex Anthopoulos was brought in.
Ricciardi was the Blue Jays general manager from 2002- 2009, in which he did not bring much success to the team and was scrutinized for two terrible contracts which involved Vernon Wells and BJ Ryan.
The biggest knock on Ricciardi was some of the high-valued contracts he dished out, such as the seven-year $126 million extension to Vernon Wells and the five-year, $47 million to free agent closer B.J. Ryan. Neither player lived up to the expectations of the deal and there are a few other names that could be thrown in the mix. -Shushkewich
The Blue Jays went on to make one of the best moves in their history and especially in recent year when they named his replacement, Alex Anthopoulos. The Montreal native went on to assemble some of the best Blue Jays teams fans have seen in almost 30 years but decided to leave the organization once Mark Shapiro took over since the two did not see eye to eye.
To replace Ricciardi, the club replaced him with an internal hire in Alex Anthopoulos. The Montreal, Que. product kept working his way up the ladder and eventually became assistant general manager to Ricciardi in 2005 before being promoted to general manager following Riccardi's dismissal.
Anthopoulos was the general manager of the Jays until the end of the 2015 season when he departed the organization after forming a roster that made the postseason for the first time since 1993. Atkins was hired to replace Anthopoulos and the Blue Jays have not won a postseason game since 2016. -Shushkewich
Anthopoulos was the general manager of the Jays until the end of the 2015 season when he departed the organization after forming a roster that made the postseason for the first time since 1993. Atkins was hired to replace Anthopoulos and the Blue Jays have not won a postseason game since 2016. -Shushkewich
Fans have pointed out how great of a move it was when they fired their last GM Ricciardi and how they could have the same outcome if they finally decide to move on from Ross Atkins.
Latest 10 stories
