Dodgers executive Alex Anthopoulos to be named Atlanta Braves general manager

Alex Anthopoulos, the former Toronto Blue Jays general manager who spent the last two seasons in the Dodgers front office, was introduced as the general manager of the Atlanta Braves on Monday.

After ending a 21-year postseason drought in Toronto in 2015, Anthopoulos left the Blue Jays to join the front office of Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. A close friend of general manager Farhan Zaidi, Anthopoulos served as the organization’s vice president of baseball operations.

Anthopoulos aided the organization in a variety of ways. He helped shape the big-league roster, scouted for the amateur draft and helped coordinate the pro scouting staff.

His departure creates another hole in the team’s front office. The Dodgers are searching for a replacement for former farm director Gabe Kapler, who was named manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in late October. Zaidi indicated the team may not pursue a direct replacement for Anthopoulos.

“It’s a chance for us to reset and maybe reorient a couple of those leadership positions,” Zaidi said.

The opening in Atlanta resulted from the resignation of former general manager John Coppolella, who left during an investigation by Major League Baseball into the Braves’ violations in the international market.

andy.mccullough@latimes.com

Twitter: @McCulloughTimes