The Toronto Blue Jays hired former Houston Astros general manager James Click as their vice president of baseball strategy Monday.
Click, 45, joins the Blue Jays after he and the Astros were unable to come to terms on a new contract, despite winning the World Series in November. The Astros went to the American League Championship Series all three seasons -- and the World Series twice -- under Click.
Click turned down a one-year offer from the Astros. His contract expired in October and he stayed on through Houston's World Series triumph.
Click also spent 15 years in the front office of the Tampa Bay Rays, rising to VP of baseball operations in 2017.
The Blue Jays finished 92-70 last season and lost in the American League wild-card round.
"In this role, Click will join the baseball operations leadership team, working closely with general manager Ross Atkins and department heads on strategic planning, decision making and evaluation," the Blue Jays said in a news release. "He will work across both professional and amateur levels to identify best practices, develop plans and implement strategies."
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