Anthopoulos won't return as Blue Jays GM

As the scene shifts from Kansas City to New York for the World Series, some shocking news broke north of the border Thursday.

Alex Anthopoulos will leave the Toronto Blue Jays after turning down an extension to remain as the general manager, the team confirmed Thursday.

Blue Jays chairman Edward Rogers released a statement that revealed Anthopoulos rejected a five-year deal to remain with the club.

Related: Anthopoulos rejects 5-year extension

Anthopoulos' contract was set to expire Monday, the same day Mark Shapiro will be sworn in as the new president and CEO of the club.

"All I can say is I love being here, I love Toronto, I've always maintained that, and that's probably as far as I'd go with that," Anthopoulos said about his contract situation earlier this week at his season-ending press conference.

The Blue Jays became legitimate World Series contenders for the first time since 1993 after Anthopoulos made a flurry of roster moves to bolster the club for a deep playoff run. He's responsible for the additions of superstar talents such as Josh Donaldson, Troy Tulowitzki, and David Price, among others.

Anthopoulos can also largely be credited for developing the team's young core. Players drafted or signed as international free agents by the GM include Marcus Stroman, Kevin Pillar, Aaron Sanchez, Noah Syndergaard (traded to the New York Mets), and Roberto Osuna.

Manager John Gibbons is under contract through 2016, but his fate may also be in jeopardy with the departure of Anthopoulos. If the skipper remains with the team past Jan. 1, he'll activate his 2017 option and a club option for 2018.

Anthopoulos has served as Toronto's GM since taking over for J.P. Ricciardi in the winter of 2009, and the team went 489-483 under his watch.

There are currently no GM openings in the majors, so the 38-year-old executive may have to sit out a year before catching on with another club in the same role.