Alex Anthopoulos says the decision to leave the Blue Jays was his decision alone.

“It’s hard, but, I just felt this is the right thing for me at this time.”

In a conference call the outgoing general manager says staying on was not ”the right fit”.

The team says he turned down a five-year contract extension.

President and CEO Paul Beeston, who’s also leaving, issued a statement.

”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.”

Beeston concluded by wishing Anthopoulos good luck and thanked him for ”a job extremely well done.”

There are reports Anthopoulos and incoming president Mark Shapiro did not see eye-to-eye on how to run the team.

Anthopoulos would not get into that, only saying Shapiro and the team wanted him to stay on and that their contract offer was ”more than generous”.

Ironically, also on Thursday, Sporting News named Anthopoulos MLB Executive of the Year – a first for the organization.

Meanwhile, one of Anthopoulos’ top acquisitions, Josh Donaldson, has been named Player of the Year by Sporting News.

Dondaldson’s the third Jays player to win the award, joining George Bell in 1987 and Carlos Delgado in 2000.