It's official. Moore in, Baird out

[ChiTown]

Good deal

Royals fire Baird to clear path for hiring Moore as GM
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Royals fired general manager Allard Baird on this morning in anticipation of announcing the hiring of Atlanta assistant Dayton Moore as his replacement.

The club declined official comment regarding the moves, but Baird confirmed he had been fired.

“I was told this morning,” he said. “Beyond that, I don’t have anything to say.”

Sources say Moore is getting a five-year contract and complete control over baseball operations in a commitment to turn around a franchise that has lost 100 or more games in three of the last four seasons.

Moore, 39, is expected to take control, officially, next week upon completion of baseball’s two-day draft. Sources said assistant general manager Muzzy Jackson will replace Baird on an interim basis.

Moore could not be reached for comment.

Club owner David Glass signaled Baird’s job was in jeopardy April 20 after the Royals fell to 2-12 after a winless nine-game road trip through New York, Tampa Bay and Chicago.

“It has to change quickly,” he said. “We are not willing to wait to see if it gets better. We have to make it get better… If it doesn’t turn around, we’ll have to change things.

“We can’t wait too long. I’m not willing to go through a season like we did last year. None of us are.”

Glass’ patience seemed exhausted by May 4 when he declared: “I’m out of patience. I have never been this frustrated. I’ve got to do something. This can’t continue.”

It was at that point, from all indications, that Glass accelerated his search for a new general manager. He initially hoped to complete the process within a day or two.

It soon became an ordeal that lasted nearly four weeks and effectively paralyzed the organization as Baird’s administrative effectiveness steadily waned amid the mounting speculation of impending change.

Baird, 44, finally called publicly for “closure” earlier this week.

The Royals, ironically, entered Wednesday’s game in search of their first sweep in a road series in nearly three years after victories Monday and Tuesday over the A’s in Oakland.

Even so, their 13-37 record is the worst in baseball and matches the worst in franchise history through 50 games. They were also 13-37 last season, when they finished 56-106.

Moore, 39, will be the sixth general manager in franchise history. He is currently responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Braves’ scouting and player development as an assistant to general manager John Schuerholz.

The Star reported Saturday that Glass offered the job to Moore after more than 10 days of discussions. Sources said Moore wanted written assurance that he would have full and final authority on all baseball-related decisions before accepting the offer.

The Royals were 381-576 in Baird’s tenure, which began June 17, 2000, when he replaced Herk Robinson. He spent 12 previous seasons in the organization in various roles.

The organization’s primary failure under Baird was in its inability to draft and develop high-quality players in recent years. The current 25-man roster has only two players — outfielders David DeJesus and Shane Costa — who were drafted in Baird’s six seasons.

Further, several recent lineups mocked the very idea that the club is engaged in a rebuilding plan. The Royals started five players Tuesday against Oakland who were 30 years or older.

While Baird and his staff succeeded in uncovering some real bargains on the free-agent fringe, they proved far less successful in obtaining top value when forced by financial considerations to trade players such as Johnny Damon, Carlos Beltran and Jermaine Dye.

It was the Beltran trade — on June 24, 2004 — that marked the latest full-scale effort to rebuild their roster. The Royals received catcher John Buck, third baseman Mark Teahen and pitcher Mike Wood in return.

They are also 99-206 since that point.

This year’s disappointing performance comes after Glass authorized a payroll increase that allowed Baird to spend nearly $25 million in the off-season on veteran players to supplement a youthful and often-overmatched roster.

The anticipated mix has been derailed by injuries.

Three of the club’s anticipated starting pitchers — Mark Redman, Denny Bautista and Zack Greinke — have spent time on the disabled list. Greinke and closer Mike MacDougal have been out all season.

Another starter, Runelvys Hernandez, required three-plus weeks of additional conditioning time in the minors before joining the club. He was recently optioned back to Class AAA Omaha because of poor performance.

Injuries also sidelined two of the club’s key regulars: DeJesus and DH Mike Sweeney. DeJesus returned Monday after a 34-game absence, while Sweeney, who has already missed 26 games, isn’t expected back for several more weeks because of a bulging cervical disk in his neck.

To reach Bob Dutton, Royals reporter for The Star, call (816) 234-4352 or send email to bdutton@kcstar.com

[VonneMarie]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

That's usually how long I last too.... but ive heard its the best 30 seconds of a females life.

But glad that made ya feel good minus the smartass reply.

[shakesthecat]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

Absolutely no reason to start the service clock on Gordon or Butler this year. Why not give a guy like Chip Ambres a chance instead of guys we KNOW can't play, and who have zero chance of being around if/when we ever do contend.

Ding!
At least not until Sept, after the stench clears.


I have to give Teahen credit, I thought he'd crumble, but he clearly deserves another shot.

[Sure-Oz]

I think Moore is definetly going to give us direction and determine whether guys like Teahan etc are ready to come back up and play. We really need to work on developing these guys to be quality MLB players. We have done a horrible job of that so far.

[RufusRJones]

I really hope Moore works out. Sounds like a good baseball man. Time to get some of the players from the 70s and 80s back into system working with the youngsters.

And it certainly doesn't hurt to steal Atlanta's young GM talent to pay them back for stealing John Schuerholz from us in the early 90s. It's kind of funny that you can pretty much trace the Royals problems to Schuerholz leaving (well and EK's death), and hopefully now we're getting that young GM to build our team.

[RufusRJones]

I could be wrong, but Teahan just doesn't look like a major league player to me. He's totally stiff. He just doesn't have the fluidity of a normal everyday player. Personally, I don't think the A's would have traded him to us if they saw anything in him, even though they had solid 3B talent. It's not like you can't move an infielder to the outfield if the talent is there.

Basically at the end of the day, we got nothing in that trade - Buck and Teahan can't hit and Wood is pretty middle of the road. I guess we can take solace that no one else involved in the trade got what they wanted either in the long run.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by RufusRJones

I could be wrong, but Teahan just doesn't look like a major league player to me. He's totally stiff. He just doesn't have the fluidity of a normal everyday player. Personally, I don't think the A's would have traded him to us if they saw anything in him, even though they had solid 3B talent. It's not like you can't move an infielder to the outfield if the talent is there.

Basically at the end of the day, we got nothing in that trade - Buck and Teahan can't hit and Wood is pretty middle of the road. I guess we can take solace that no one else involved in the trade got what they wanted either in the long run.

That trade isn't that bad. Heck, we could have signed Beltran back a half a year later. Houston rented him for a few months for those players.

[58-4ever]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

That trade isn't that bad. Heck, we could have signed Beltran back a half a year later. Houston rented him for a few months for those players.

Beltran would have NEVER come to KC again. Plus, we would not have given him a deal anywhere close to what the Mets offered.

[KChiefs1]

Beltran wasn't the trade that broke the Royals back. Check out the Johnny Damon trade with the A's. Now that one really sucked!

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Beltran wasn't the trade that broke the Royals back. Check out the Johnny Damon trade with the A's. Now that one really sucked!

I'd much rather have Berroa than Damon, especially at their respective salaries.

[Jordan]

I couldn't be happier with this hiring. Best move the Royals have made in years!

Too bad 'bout the Glass being in charge of the draft now tho. (as far as I know atleast)

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I'd much rather have Berroa than Damon, especially at their respective salaries.

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[FringeNC]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I'd much rather have Berroa than Damon, especially at their respective salaries.

Neither one of them is worth their salaries. No other team would have paid Damon nearly that much, and Berroa has no value. I doubt any team would even be willing to take him off our hands. We'd have to pay his salary, and still wouldn't get anything but a marginal prospect.

[58-4ever]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

Neither one of them is worth their salaries. No other team would have paid Damon nearly that much, and Berroa has no value. I doubt any team would even be willing to take him off our hands. We'd have to pay his salary, and still wouldn't get anything but a marginal prospect.

Why would we have to pay his salary? It isn't quite the same as football.

[Sure-Oz]

It's too bad Berroa didn't learn plate discipline at all....he has the tools it just never has gotten together for him. No one throws him a strike anymore and he will continue to be average if that.

[big nasty kcnut]

Thank you me and my dad are very happy.