Alex Anthopoulos says it had always been his “goal” and “desire” to remain with the Blue Jays until the end of his career.

But sometime after incoming president Mark Shapiro was hired by Rogers Communications to replace Paul Beeston, all of a sudden the organization no longer felt right.

“I just didn’t feel like this was a right fit for me going forward,” Anthopoulos said in a Thursday afternoon conference call with reporters that had far more questions than answers about his surprising departure.

“I don’t know if I’ve had to make a harder decision in my life, but I did what I felt like I needed to do.”

The 38-year-old Montrealer rejected a five-year contract extension from the Jays this week, shortly after he completed his sixth and most successful season at the club’s helm, helping to end the franchise’s 22-year playoff drought.

Anthopoulos, ever cagey and tight-lipped, offered few specifics behind his decision. He said he was given “every opportunity” to continue as general manager. In oblique fashion, however, Anthopoulos hinted that it was Shapiro’s influence in baseball-decision making that made his continuance as GM untenable.

“You have to be true to yourself,” he said at one point in explaining his decision.

In another instance he said it would not be accurate to describe the situation as a power struggle with Shapiro, but again he refused to discuss specifics, saying only the Jays were no longer the “right fit.”

In an ironic twist, during the 45-minute conference call, the Sporting News announced that Anthopoulos was voted Major League Baseball’s executive of the year by a panel of his peers. It marks the first time he has received the award, which is given out annually to baseball’s top front-office executive.

Jays fans react to Anthopoulos leaving

Anthopoulos said he “unequivocally” does not have another job lined up and his decision has nothing to do with money.

Anthopoulos says Rogers was “extremely generous” with him, but declined to discuss specifics of why he declined the five-year contract. He said he “can’t stress enough” how well he was treated by Shapiro and Rogers. “This decision is solely mine.”

The Jays had earlier released a statement confirming his departure.

“After an exciting 2015 season, Alex Anthopoulos has reluctantly and regrettably decided that he is not going to return to the Toronto Blue Jays baseball club for 2016,” said outgoing Jays president and CEO Paul Beeston.

“Alex has done an unbelievable job and positioned us well for the future. He can take great pride in his past and while we do not know where his future is taking him, we do know wherever he is going, he will be successful.”

Edward Rogers, chairman of the Blue Jays, said the club “was disappointed he has chosen not to accept our five-year contract offer.”

“Alex has done a terrific job as GM of the Blue Jays over the past six seasons, and we would have loved it if he stayed with the club,” Rogers said in a statement. “Alex leaves behind an outstanding front office team and coaching staff that played a key role in shaping the team’s great run this season. They will continue to operate in leadership roles next year as we look to build upon the team’s success.”

Shocked Jays fans immediately took to social media to express their outrage at the team, its owner and incoming president Shapiro.

“Fire Shapiro,” one fan tweeted. “Give Anthopoulos control of baseball. Let Anthopoulos hire his own President.”

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Sources indicated to the Star’s Bruce Arthur that in a face-to-face meeting with Anthopoulos, Shapiro expressed disapproval over some of the prospects traded away at the deadline.

Anthopoulos acquired ace starter David Price and all-star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki before the midsummer trade deadline. Prospects who were traded to Detroit and Colorado to acquire the two stars included pitchers Daniel Norris, Jeff Hoffman, Miguel Castro and Matt Boyd.

Fans loved the deals and the moves made Anthopoulos a contender for the MLB’s executive of the year award. The Jays were 50-51 and eight games back of the AL East lead before the moves, and stormed back to win the division.

RELATED: GRIFFIN: Trouble ahead if Jays ownership promised Shapiro final say in player moves

Sources indicate there were negotiations over the past several months, but Anthopoulos turned down a contract offer this week and it wasn’t over money.

When Rogers was negotiating with Shapiro to leave a similar role in Cleveland, ownership reportedly promised him final say on player personnel matters. The team was scuffling to stay above .500 in July but now he takes over a team that made it to the ALCS before losing to the Royals.

Anthopolous leaves with a 489-483 record in six seasons with the Jays. The team finished above .500 in four of those seasons.

He pulled off what some say was the steal of the off-season when he acquired potential American League MVP Josh Donaldson for infielder Brett Lawrie and a package of prospects.

But he also swung for the fences a couple of seasons ago when he acquired Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson from the Marlins in a blockbuster move. He also traded for Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey from the New York Mets for blue chip prospects Noah Syndergaard and Travis d’Arnaud.

Jays fans were celebrating at the time but the team then went out and finished last in the AL East. Meanwhile, Syndergaard and d’Arnaud are the Mets pitching battery for Friday night’s Game 3 of the World Series.

A Montreal native and graduate of McMaster University, Anthopoulos began his career in baseball in 2000 sorting fan mail for the Expos.

He worked as the Jays’ scouting coordinator in 2003 before becoming assistant GM after the 2005 season. He became vice-president, baseball operations in January 2006 before replacing J.P. Ricciardi in 2009 as GM.

Ricciardi’s teams had a record of 642-650 in eight seasons with the Jays.

With files from thestar.com

Alex Anthopoulos' Baseball Career

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