Greatest moments during the Dayton Moore era


The Kansas City Royals through the years have had nine general managers since entering the league as an expansion team in 1969. Dayton Moore was the longest tenured general manager in franchise history. Former Royals owner David Glass hired Dayton Moore as the team's general manager in 2006 to replace Allard Baird. Following the departure of Baird, Mr. Moore selected former two time all-star closer Joakim Soria out of the San Diego Padres organization in the 2006 Rule 5 Draft. The following year, Moore made one of the greatest player signings in franchise history, catcher Salvador Perez. During Moore's time in Kansas City, Perez has played in seven all-star games, won a World Series, was named World Series MVP, selected to two All-MLB First Teams, won five gold gloves and four Silver Slugger Awards, named American League Comeback Player of the Year, led the MLB in home runs, was the American League RBI Leader. Perez also currently holds the record for the most home runs hit by a catcher. 

Greinke to Milwaukee 

The Royals and Dayton Moore traded star pitcher Zack Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Lorenzo Cain, shortstop Alcides Escobar, pitcher Jeremy Jeffress and pitcher Jake Odorizzi. Kansas City didn't want to move Greinke, but they knew they couldn't sign Greinke to a long-term deal due to financial restraints and Greinke's unwillingness to remain in Kansas City for the long haul. The Royals granted Greinke his wish on December 17, 2010, and sent him to the Milwaukee Brewers. Now 12 years later, the Royals brought Greinke back on a one year deal. The pieces the Royals got in return for Greinke would play a role in the trade for James Shields.

The Shields’ Trade

On December 9, 2012 the Royals traded away the then number one prospect in the MLB, outfielder Wil Myers along with pitchers Jake Odorizzi, Mike Montgomery and infielder Patrick Leonard to the Rays for all star pitcher James Shields and future all star closer Wade Davis. Without the Royals dealing Greinke to the Brewers, the team wouldn't have been able to acquire James Shields and Wade Davis. Trading for Shields boosted the team's starting rotation but only for two seasons. Moore and the Royals both knew that they had to make the postseason in the final two years of Shields’ contract before he became a free agent. The Royals and Shields would reach the World Series in the final year of the right hander's contract, but Kansas City lost to the San Francisco Giants. Although Shields wasn't part of the 2015 World Series championship team, the trade still made a huge impact in the way of Wade Davis, who was under team control for five years after being acquired for Tampa Bay. Shields would go on to sign a four year contract with the Padres following the end of his time with the Royals. 

Hosmer Arrives 

Following the completions of the Greinke and Shields trades, the team was still putting a championship caliber team together. In 2008, the Royals drafted first baseman Eric Hosmer in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft. The Royals World Series team was starting to take shape three years later when the team selected third baseman Mike Moustakas' contract from Omaha. In 2015, Kansas City would go on to win the World Series against the New York Mets. The Royals hadn't won the World Series in 30 years and probably wouldn't have won it if it weren't for Dayton Moore and his ability to draft well and make good trades. 

The Up and Coming Royals 

Following the end of the two incredible World Series runs by the Royals, the team saw their World Series championship team disbanded in free agency. Three years later, the Royals would start the process of trying to build a championship team through the draft. Kansas City selected first baseman Nick Pratto in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft. Although Pratto hasn't played many games in the big leagues, the Royals view him as an important part of the team's future core. A year after drafting Pratto, Moore and company selected forty-three players that included four pitchers in the first round. The team selected Brady Singer, Jackson Kowar, Daniel Lynch, and Kris Bubic. Singer, at this point in his career with the Royals, has been the team's top pitcher. The 2019 draft for the Royals, was an incredible one as well. Kansas City selected shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. in the first round. Now three years later, Witt Jr. has become a superstar for a struggling ball club in 2022. 

Moore's Impact on the Royals’ Future 

On September 21, 2022 the Royals announced the firing of Moore after six consecutive losing seasons. Although Moore is no longer in the picture with the Royals, his great drafts from 2017, 2018, and 2019 will play a major role in the Royals’ future for the next few years. In fact, if the Royals’ young core of players reach the postseason and win the World Series, Moore will be a big reason for it. Although the Royals and many Royals’ fans weren't happy with the team's productivity on the field the past few seasons, I have a very good feeling that the team will have regrets giving Moore the boot in the next few years.

Popular posts from this blog

Flashback Royals: Remembering a Murder Victim

Image
The Royals over the years have worn patches on their uniforms to remember tragic periods in American history including 9/11 and more. Kansas City in 2007 was stunned after learning that local teenager Kelsey Smith was abducted and murdered. The Royals wore light blue ribbons on their wrists in remembrance of the 18-year old after former manager Buddy Bell spoke to the Smith family.  Many Kansas Cityians remember the Kelsey Smith case well after the story of her abduction hit the local media and national media. On June 2, Smith was shopping at her local Target in Overland Park, KS looking for a picture frame for her boyfriend John Biersmith. While at Target, Smith's killer followed her throughout the store after noticing her at the jewelry counter. While Smith was in the checkout line, her abductor ran to his vehicle to grab his gun and waited for her to leave the store to grab her. The 18-year old was unable to fight off the kidnapper and was forced into her vehicle and...
Read more

Flashback Royals: The murder at the pool

Image
Self-defense is more important now than ever, and teams like the Royals are promoting it through various events. In 2008, the Royals held a self-defense class called T.A.K.E. to support The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation and honor Ali Kemp's life. Similarly, the Kelsey Smith Foundation, named after a girl abducted at a Target in Kansas in 2007, also focuses on teaching self-defense. The Royals later honored Kelsey Smith's memory as well. Ali Kemp's murder in 2002 had a profound impact on the Kansas City metro area. At 19, Ali was working as a lifeguard in Leawood, Kansas, during the summer. Her father believed it was a safe job: "It was a wonderful job, a neighborhood pool. And you would think the safest place in the world." However, her shift on that fateful day turned tragic. Around 3 p.m., Ali called a friend for company, but the friend missed the call. Shortly after, Laurel Vine, another friend, arrived at the pool and saw a man leaving. Thinking ...
Read more

Royals small connections to US Presidents

Image
The state of Kansas and the Kansas City metro have several connections to US Presidents, such as the 33rd President Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Although both Kansas and Kansas City have connections to the late Presidents, none of Kansas City's professional baseball teams such as the Monarchs, Athletics, or the Royals had the chance to meet either of them. However, former Royals manager Ned Yost has been to the White House more than once. Yost has met five US Presidents during his time in baseball. The former manager's first interaction with a President was with 39th President Jimmy Carter while living just outside of Atlanta. Yost said the 39th President attended games regularly: "Jimmy used to come a lot to the Braves games, and you could walk down the tunnel going to the dugout when Jimmy was there because Secret Service guys were all outside his little room they had for him and I’d waltz right in there and go sit down,” Yost said. “Him and Rosa...
Read more