Gord Ash was fired as general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, and Larry Beinfest was appointed interim general manager of the Montreal Expos.
Ash has been with the Blue Jays since he was hired to work in the ticket office in 1978 and became general manager when Pat Gillick left in October 1994. Gillick helped Toronto win World Series titles in 1992 and '93.
"We're not in the pennant race and that's part of the reason that we're looking for a general manager," Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey said. "I regret this, but I believe in the best interests of the club a change in direction is essential."
Ash, 49, declined comment. He will remain with the team through the end of the season this weekend.
"I'm very disappointed because Gord had all the confidence in my ability to manage this club. I feel like I've let him down," manager Buck Martinez said in Baltimore before the Blue Jays played the Orioles.
Toronto, which expected to contend for a postseason berth in Martinez's first season as manager, began Tuesday third in the AL East at 76-80, 17 games behind the division-winning New York Yankees.
Toronto's opening-day payroll of $75.8 million was 10th in the major leagues.
Godfrey said assistant general managers Tim McCleary and Dave Stewart will share expanded duties until Ash's replacement is selected.
Toronto went 16-9 in April before losing 12 of its first 18 games in May, when it played against AL West teams. The Blue Jays averaged 23,680 for their first 78 home games, less than half what the team drew a decade ago.
Ash, who also was a senior vice president of the team, has two years remaining on a contract he was given a year ago.
Godfrey took over running the Blue Jays after Ted Rogers, president of Rogers Communications bought 80 percent of the team in September 2000 for $112 million.
Beinfest, 37, had been assistant to general manager Jim Beattie, who announced his resignation Sept. 21, effective following the season.
Beinfest joined the Expos on Dec. 3, 1999. He had been Seattle's assistant to the vice president for baseball operations after serving as the Mariners' director of player development.