TORONTO -- The Blue Jays added another voice to their expanding front office by officially hiring former Major League manager Eric Wedge as a player development adviser on Saturday afternoon.
According to a team statement, Wedge will work closely with president Mark Shapiro, general manager Ross Atkins and player development director Gil Kim on "strategies to enhance the player development system."
Wedge spent more than 10 years as a manager in Seattle and Cleveland. He owns a career 774-846 (.478) record, with the highlight coming in 2007 when he was named the American League Manager of the Year for his work with the Indians. Wedge also previously earned Minor League Manager of the Year honors in 2002 (Triple-A Buffalo).
The hiring reunites Wedge with his former boss in Cleveland. Wedge worked alongside Shapiro from 2003-09, and he's also familiar with Atkins, who had been with the Indians since 2003. Kim was recently hired away from the Rangers to take over Toronto's player development.
Toronto also has been making changes to its analytics department over these winter months, as Shapiro and Atkins continue to put their stamp on the organization. Wedge becomes the latest addition, but more hires will be made in the coming weeks.