NEW YORK, N.Y. – Cleveland Indians President Mark Shapiro is offering no comment on a report that the Toronto Blue Jays are interested in hiring him.

Fox Sports reported Thursday that Shapiro was a “strong candidate” to succeed Blue Jays President Paul Beeston, who plans to retire after this season. Fox said Toronto had spoken to Shapiro about the job.

Shapiro on Friday declined comment to The Associated Press about the report.

The Blue Jays had been interested in Detroit President Dave Dombrowski, who recently left the Tigers and joined the Boston Red Sox.

Indians manager Terry Francona said he was aware of the speculation.

“Mark had given us a heads-up, so the report didn’t send shockwaves,” he said Friday before Cleveland played at Yankee Stadium.

“First of all, it’s Mark’s business and there’s nothing that has happened. We’ll wait and see,” he said. “From a personal standpoint, I hope, because I like him so much, I hope he — whether it’s in Cleveland or Tokyo — I hope he’s doing whatever is fulfilling to him.”