KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore has built a level of trust during his 13-year tenure, which includes the rebuilding effort that led to back-to-back World Series appearances in 2014 and 2015 as well as the 2015 championship.
His choice for the manager to succeed Ned Yost carries the utmost importance as the Royals try to dig out of a hole that has included three consecutive losing seasons, including back-to-back 100-loss years.
"Knowing Dayton, what type of guy he is, he'll make the right decision for this team for this team and this organization," Royals outfielder and franchise cornerstone Alex Gordon said at the end of the season.
Former St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny became the presumptive leading candidate to replace Yost since last winter when he joined the organization in an advisory role.
Matheny, who ended a 13-year playing career in the majors in 2006, didn't post a losing record in any of his seven seasons at the helm in St. Louis _ even his abbreviated seventh season, which led to his firing in the middle of a July 2018 playoff push.
Despite a 591-474 overall record, three division titles, four consecutive playoff appearances to start his managerial career and one National League pennant, Matheny's tenure in St. Louis raises legitimate questions about his fit for a Royals organization still building towards contention.
Moore must sort through all of Matheny's background and separate noise and substance.
