Blue Jays’ Polarizing Superstar Sends Harsh Message To CEO Mark Shapiro After Trade

Toronto Blue Jays Hall Of Famer Shares Betrayal By CEO Mark Shapiro

Roberto Alomar became one of the defining players in Blue Jays history after Toronto acquired him from the San Diego Padres in the blockbuster deal that also brought Joe Carter to Canada.

During five seasons with Toronto, Alomar became a five-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner while helping the Blue Jays capture consecutive World Series titles. His 1992 ALCS performance against Oakland, including a dramatic home run off Dennis Eckersley, remains one of the most celebrated moments in franchise history.

But his relationship with the organization changed dramatically after he ended his playing days.

Toronto permanently distanced itself from Alomar after commissioner Rob Manfred concluded that he had violated MLB’s policies following an independent investigation. The Blue Jays removed Alomar’s name from their Level of Excellence, ended his role as an executive consultant and excluded him from alumni celebrations.

That included the recent reunion honoring the 1992 and 1993 championship teams. But evidently Alomar’s feelings about one key member of the organization changed while he was still playing.

Mark Shapiro, who is now the team’s CEO but was the Cleveland Indians’ GM at the time, traded him to the New York Mets before the 2002 season, something Alomar has now revisited with some hard feelings.

“We didn’t have an argument. What happened was we had a conversion, person to person, where he told me that he wasn’t going to trade me, and then two days later I got traded,” Alomar revealed to the Toronto Star’s Rosie DiManno. “And he never even called me.”

Shapiro ultimately decided to sever ties with Alomar as the leader of the Blue Jays, but the Hall of Famer had already been let down by the executive due to that trade decision.

“I felt betrayed by him,” Alomar added, per DiManno.

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While the Blue Jays have essentially banished Alomar following the high-profile accusations, he has never been civilly or criminally charged following either of the two complaints.

And for her part, DiManno weighed in that the first of the accusations, which she had unique insight into, was unconvincing to her.

“Shapiro declined a request to be interviewed for this column. But doubtless he felt betrayed, too, on behalf of the franchise for the accusations made against Alomar that (MLB commissioner Rob) Manfred found convincing,” she wrote. “Many Jays fans probably share that view. As someone who had knowledge of the first complainant at the time — she’s never been formally identified, which is common practice for alleged victims of sexual misconduct — I do not share that view.”

There is no questioning Alomar’s importance to the Blue Jays’ greatest era on the diamond. In 1993, he hit .326 with 17 home runs, 93 RBIs and 55 stolen bases, while his postseason contributions helped Toronto earn back-to-back championships.

His legacy with the franchise is consequently complicated: he remains one of the most accomplished players ever to wear a Blue Jays uniform, while the organization has made clear that his later conduct prevents him from participating in its official celebrations.

And when it comes to at least one key figure in the Blue Jays’ front office, Alomar still recalls some hard feelings.