Mike Matheny will be replaced as Royals manager by Matt Quatraro of the Rays.
The Kansas City Royals announced on Sunday that Matt Quatraro, the bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays, will take over as manager.
The story was first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Mike Matheny, who was sacked after the Royals concluded 2022 with a 65-97 record, would be replaced by Quatraro. Additionally, Kansas City’s postseason drought was prolonged to seven seasons.
General manager J.J. Picollo stated, “We are very happy to have Matt guiding our team and core of talent.” “Matt has a wealth of professional experiences that have equipped him for this.
Throughout our interview process, he left a lasting impression on all of us, and it is obvious that the industry respects him.”
To make up for its recent futility, the organization has already undergone a number of significant reforms. The Royals let go of Matheny and also let go of pitching coach Cal Eldred.
Before the regular season concluded, Dayton Moore was removed from his position as president of baseball operations.
It wasn’t only that Kansas City’s fortunes declined precipitously following its consecutive World Series appearances in 2014 and 2015. Moore’s strategy of rebuilding on young pitching hasn’t succeeded, and the team doesn’t have a wealth of elite prospects to inspire hope for the future.
Both MJ Melendez and Bobby Witt Jr. made their Major League Baseball debuts in 2022, and neither is older than 23. According to Baseball Reference, Kansas City’s pitching staff was also tied for the second-youngest in the league at 27.3.
It’s not quite empty, but neither is it like it was in the early 2010s, when Kansas City had a farm system full of promise.
Facilitating the realization of Picollo’s long-term vision will be Quatraro’s primary goal.
The 48-year-old is a perfect fit given his background with the Cleveland Guardians and his time in Tampa. He has experience working for a small-market team that depends on a consistent supply of domestic talent to succeed.
Quatraro’s selection also conveys the ownership’s lack of expectation of a quick recovery. Since the Royals are probably years away from contending, the new manager will have plenty of opportunity to create a new culture in the dugout.