The same day he was named Major League Baseball's executive of the year, Alex Anthopoulos found himself trying to explain why he was facing unemployment.

In a surprising turn of events, the Toronto Blue Jays parted ways with their chief architect Thursday -- less than a week after coming within one inning of forcing Game 7 in the American League Championship Series.

Anthopoulos said it was his choice, with the final decision coming late Wednesday afternoon.

"I just didn't feel like this was the right fit for me going forward," Anthopoulos told reporters in a conference call Thursday. "Not an easy (decision). Obviously everyone knows how I feel about the organization, the city, the country."

"By no means was this an easy decision but it was one that I felt I needed to make ... I own this decision. This is on me 100 per cent," he added.

It was a classy if confusing exit.

Despite repeated questions, Anthopoulos did not elaborate on why he is leaving, other than to say that he wanted to be true to himself and that the impasse was not due to a financial disagreement. But the GM's departure comes during a changeover in Jays management with Mark Shapiro, the former Cleveland Indians president, taking over from the departing Paul Beeston as president and CEO.

"This decision is solely mine. Mark gave me every opportunity to return. He was sincere in wanting me back ... (Team owner) Rogers and Mark were more than generous, I mean extremely generous," Anthopoulos said.

"I don't know that it's fair to really get into any specifics out of respect to Rogers, to Mark, to the Blue Jays, to the organization," added the Montreal native.

Anthopoulos left more questions than answers. He said he wanted to be back and that ownership and his new boss wanted him to stay. But clearly the team's new landscape was not one he could live with.

He declined to say why it was not a good fit. But he went out of his way to praise Shapiro and Rogers, stressing that the baseball team is in good hands.

"I know this is not an easy day for anybody ... I don't think any of us wanted this to happen."

Anthopoulos, 38, turned down a five-year contract extension, amid speculation of a difference in vision with Shapiro who does not officially take up his new job until Monday.

Unlike Beeston, Shapiro is a president immersed in the baseball side -- and one who clearly has his own views on how to run a club. Shapiro and Anthopoulos don't appear to be on the same page, although Anthopoulos rejected the suggestion of a power struggle.

Anthopoulos said he did not have another job lined up, although he said his phone "exploded" Thursday once news of his pending departure broke.

"My focus was on the Toronto Blue Jays and it will be really through Saturday, at least. What happens after that, I've no idea."

He said he would take time to "recalibrate" and evaluate his options.

Anthopoulos was named Sporting News' 2015 Major League Baseball Executive of the Year, as selected by a panel of 47 major-league executives in voting prior to the post-season.

"I'm very honoured and grateful," said Anthopoulos, the first Jays executive to win the award.

Beeston, an unabashed backer of Anthopoulos, confirmed in a statement earlier Thursday that the team's popular GM and senior vice-president of baseball operations was leaving.

"After an exciting 2015 season, Alex Anthopoulos has reluctantly and regrettably decided that he is not going to return to the Toronto Blue Jays baseball club for 2016," said Beeston. "Alex has done an unbelievable job and positioned us well for the future. He can take great pride in his past and while we do not know where his future is taking him, we do know wherever he is going, he will be successful."

Anthopoulos, then assistant general manager, took over as Toronto's GM in 2009 after J.P. Ricciardi was fired.

The Jays went 489-483 under Anthopoulos, according to Sportsnet stats, but soared this year.

The GM earned kudos for a string of moves that produced a thrilling 93-69 campaign and a return to the playoffs after 22 years. Fans across the country followed the Jays' wild post-season run and Thursday's divorce was unexpected in the wake of team's playoff success.

"Alex has done a terrific job as GM of the Blue Jays over the past six seasons, and we would have loved it if he stayed with the club," Edward Rogers, chairman of the Toronto Blue Jays, said in a separate statement.

"Like the fans, we too are disappointed he has chosen not to accept our five-year contract offer, but we wish him the very best. Alex leaves behind an outstanding front office team and coaching staff that played a key role in shaping the team's great run this season."

The departure of Anthopoulos raises questions over the future of his handpicked support team.

Manager John Gibbons is on a rolling contract -- 2016 is already in place with another year set to be added Jan. 1.

Ironically his split with the Jays came days after his finest moment -- with the team going 11 games deep into the playoffs.

He helped end the team's playoff drought by retooling in the off-season and then showing some impressive sleight of hand before the trade deadline.

Signing Canadian catcher Russell Martin and trading for third baseman Josh Donaldson provided an upgrade on and off the field. Then the deadline acquisitions of David Price, Ben Revere, Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins helped the team to a remarkable second-half surge.

But the 2015 championship run came at a price. Toronto gave up some of its top prospects, as it did in trades in previous years with the Mets and Marlins.

But nobody complained as playoff baseball returned to Toronto.

In other Jays' news Thursday, And Martin, pitcher Mark Buehrle and centre-fielder Kevin Pillar were named 2015 Gold Glove Award finalists.