In 2000,Anthopoulos was hired by the Montreal Expos as an unpaid intern,and worked sorting players' fan mail.[5] After working in the mail room he would sit with the scouts at games and take notes,and was eventually moved to a scouting internship in Florida.[5] In 2002,he was promoted to the Expos' scouting coordinator. He would leave the team at the end of the 2003 season,while working as the assistant scouting director.[5]
Toronto Blue Jays (2003–2015)
Anthopoulos joined the Toronto Blue Jays in late 2003,as their scouting coordinator.[5] After the 2005 season,he was promoted to assistant general manager (AGM) under J. P. Ricciardi.[6] While he was serving as AGM,the Blue Jays acquired JoséBautista[7] and Edwin Encarnación,[8] each of whom unexpectedly experienced a career renaissance,establishing new levels of production and consistency that were key components of the Blue Jays' offense during Anthopoulos' time as GM. Bautista was the MLB home run leader from 2010–11,and,in each year from 2010 to 2015,was an All-Star and hit at least 27 home runs.[9] Encarnacion hit at least 34 home runs each year from 2012 to 2015.[10]
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Anthopoulos was also instrumental in doubling the size of the Blue Jays' scouting department, growing it to 54 scouts in various positions.[13] The 2010 draft, the first with Anthopoulos in charge, resulted in a highly successful draft with a number of players picked eventually enjoying significant playing careers in the majors, including Aaron Sanchez and Noah Syndergaard.[13]
The Jays' first season with Anthopoulos at the helm resulted in an 85–77 record, good for fourth place in the American League (AL) East division. The club hit a franchise-record 257 home runs, the third-highest single-season total by any club in Major League history.[14]
In January 2011, Anthopoulos completed a blockbuster trade by shipping another long-time face of the Blue Jays franchise, Vernon Wells, and the remaining US$86 million over the next four years to the Los Angeles Angels for catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Juan Rivera.[15] He then sent Napoli to the Texas Rangers for pitcher Frank Francisco,[16] and later traded Rivera to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a player to be named later or cash considerations.[17] Due to the debacle of the Wells deal, Anthopoulos instituted a “five year policy” on player contracts, while also excluding performance bonuses, incentives, player options, no-trade clauses or opt-out clauses, in making these deals much more team friendly. [18]
Before the 2012 Major League Baseball season, Anthopoulos was known to make trades in order to acquire supplemental draft picks. The most prominent example was when he acquired Miguel Olivo, a Type B free agent, and declined his club option the next day making Olivo a free agent.[21] The Blue Jays gained a supplemental first-round draft pick when Olivo signed with the Seattle Mariners, taking Dwight Smith, Jr.[22]
In December 2012, Anthopoulos acquired the 2012 National League Cy Young Award winner R. A. Dickey in a trade with the New York Mets that sent prospects Travis d'Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard, minor leaguer Wuilmer Becerra and Buck to New York. Toronto also received catcher Josh Thole and minor league catcher Mike Nickeas in the trade.[24] As part of the transaction, the Blue Jays signed Dickey to an extension worth a total of $29 million over three years with a $12 million fourth year option.[25]
In 2013, the Blue Jays finished at 74–88, in last place in the AL East.[26] The next year, they improved to 83–79 and third place.[27]
Anthopoulos rejected a five-year extension from the Blue Jays organization on October 29, 2015, and did not publicly reveal the reasons for his decision. He later said "I just think there's certain things that should remain private and behind closed doors, and I know sometimes that's hard to hear and hard to understand. I just think it's the right thing for the organization and the ball club and everybody involved."[38] There was some speculation that his departure was due to the belief that he would not have full autonomy under new president/CEO Mark Shapiro. According to The Globe and Mail, "The talk around the water cooler is that Anthopoulos wanted the same job and responsibility that he had under Beeston, who hired him as GM. That was having the ultimate say in all baseball-related decisions."[38] Shapiro refuted these claims on November 1, stating "It's not about autonomy, it's about collective success". He also denied suggestions that he "scolded" Anthopoulos over several deadline trades involving Blue Jays' top prospects.[39]
Toronto's combined win–loss record was 489–483 while Anthopoulos was GM.[34] On October 29, 2015, Sporting News named him Executive of the Year[40] as selected by a panel of 47 major league executives.[41]
Los Angeles Dodgers (2016–2017)
On January 12, 2016, Anthopoulos was hired as the vice-president of baseball operations by the Los Angeles Dodgers.[42]
Atlanta Braves (2017–present)
On November 13, 2017, Anthopoulos was hired as the executive vice president and general manager of the Atlanta Braves after agreeing on a four-year contract.[43] The Braves promoted Anthopoulos to president of baseball operations in February 2020, and extended his contract to the 2024 season.[44][45] The Braves would go on to win the 2021 World Series. On January 12, 2024, Anthopoulos and the Braves agreed to extend his contract through the 2031 season.[46][47][48]
In April of 2019, Anthopoulos signed Ronald Acuna Jr. to an extension through 2026 for $100,000,000. This deal included club options for 2027 and 2028.[49] On February 5, 2021, Anthopoulos signed Marcell Ozuna through 2025 with some club options for 2026.[50] In March of 2022, Anthopoulos completed a blockbuster trade acquiring first baseman Matt Olson from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for four prospects: outfielder Cristian Pache, catcher Shea Langeliers, and right-handers Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes.[51] On August 1, 2022, the Braves announced that Anthopoulos signed Austin Riley to a ten-year contract extension, worth $212 million.[52] Two weeks later, on August 16, Anthopoulos signed Michael Harris II through 2030 with some club options for 2031 and 2032.[53] On October 10, 2022, Anthopoulos signed pitcher Spencer Strider to a six-year, $75 million deal that includes a $22 million option with a $5 million buyout for 2029.[54] In December of 2022, Anthopoulos completed a trade acquiring catcher Sean Murphy in a three-way trade with the Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers that saw nine players switch teams.[55]
Anthopoulos is of Greek Canadian descent, born in Montreal, Quebec to John Anthopoulos, who owned a heating and ventilation company until his death in 1998.[1][56] He is the youngest of three sons.[56] Anthopoulos stopped playing sports as a teenager to focus on music, specifically the bass guitar. One of his brothers was a guitarist as well, and the other was a drummer and singer.[57] Anthopoulos holds a degree in economics from McMaster University.[2] Anthopoulos married Cristina in 2010,[58][59] with whom he has two children, daughter Julia and son John.[60][61]
Formerly the Boston Red Stockings, Boston Red Caps, Boston Beaneaters, Boston Doves, Boston Rustlers, Boston Bees, Boston Braves and the Milwaukee Braves
Note: Those listed here have final authority in personnel decisions for their team, typically holding a title of President of Baseball Operations, Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations, Chief Baseball Officer, and/or General Manager.
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