Beeston Signs Three-Year Deal To Stay On As Jays President & CEO

The Blue Jays' Paul Beeston yesterday confirmed "what many had been anticipating for months -- that he has decided to remove the interim tag from his title to become the new full-time" President & CEO of the team, according to Robert MacLeod of the GLOBE & MAIL. Beeston said that he has an agreement with Rogers Communications to "remain with the Blue Jays for three more years." Rogers Media President & CEO Tony Viner, whose company owns the Blue Jays, said, "While we interviewed a number of highly qualified individuals for the position, Paul's unique set of qualities made him our clear first choice." MacLeod notes Beeston earlier this year "wanted to hire" Suns President & CEO Rick Welts, but Welts "ultimately turned Beeston down." Beeston yesterday said, "There were worthy candidates out there. But I think at the end of the day one of the things they (Rogers) were looking for is somebody who definitely had experience in baseball. And I was here" (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/28). Beeston: "I do think I represent the devil they know against the devil they don't know." MLB.com's Jordan Bastian noted Beeston was the first employee of the Blue Jays in '76 and was named President & CEO in '91. He left the team in '97 to become MLB President & COO until '02. Beeston returned to the Blue Jays on an interim basis "after the 2008 season when Paul Godfrey stepped down" as team President (MLB.com, 10/27). Beeston said, "Commissioner Bud Selig had been coaxing me to stay, owners Jerry Reinsdorf and Larry Lucchino have told me I should stay. The Rogers people have been, I wouldn't say relentless, but they have been persistent" (TORONTO SUN, 10/28). In Toronto, Richard Griffin writes, "The Jays needed Beeston as president more than Beeston needed the Jays" (TORONTO STAR, 10/28).

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