Reports: Former Blue Jays GM, current Rays exec decline interviews for D-backs GM job

Alex Anthopoulos, former general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, turned down an interview for the open position of general manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball.

Tampa Bay Rays vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom likewise has turned down the opportunity to interview, reports AZCentral.com’s Nick Piecoro.

The 33-year-old Bloom, who was on Arizona’s short-list of candidates, according to Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s John Gambadoro, was in the mix for front office positions in Minnesota, Milwaukee and Philadelphia in the last year.

The 39-year-old Anthopoulos has a career in baseball front offices dating back to 2003 in Toronto when he was hired as their scouting coordinator at only the age of 26. Two years later, he was promoted to assistant general manager. In 2009, he was hired as the general manager.

Heyman reports “the Arizona GM job is still seen as desirable by many.”

Anthopoulos was in those positions while the Blue Jays accumulated their current roster that has made them a contender in the American League the past two seasons. Anthopoulos mysteriously rejected a five-year extension in 2015, the same year he was named the Executive of the Year by Sporting News.

In January, Anthopoulos became the vice president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The D-backs are reportedly in the middle of meeting with potential candidates for the open position. Several names of candidates have been reported, including former Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti.

The D-backs announced former GM Dave Stewart was fired Monday along with manager Chip Hale.

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