Royals Extend Ned Yost Through 2015

Sep 15, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost (3) watches from the dugout in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Ned Yost will return to his post as Royals manager in 2014 looking to build on 2013’s success. The Royals announced a two year extension that keeps him in place through the 2015 season.

After the Royals won 86 games, the most since 1989, it would have seemed odd to replace the manager, barring other circumstances. Yost’s contract ran through this year, and all statements during the season indicated that he and Dayton Moore weren’t discussing a deal until after the season. David Glass put it in Dayton Moore’s hands, and Moore stated publicly that he wanted Yost to return.

Back in May, I felt like Yost had lost the team. They were sleepwalking in May and Yost was offering little beyond saying “stay positive” to turn it around. They reached a crisis point and it took a mood-shifter in bringing George Brett into the dugout to wake everyone up.

And now Yost will be back.

That’s one offseason question answered.

The next one is wither Dayton Moore? If he had shaky job security (which was likely the case earlier in the year when the Royals were struggling), it would mean that he’d probably finish out the final year of his contract in 2014 and a new GM would replace everyone, including the manager. If you were taking a job but knew there was a big possibility that you’d be fired after just one year, would you be interested in taking it? That’s a tough situation to ignore when trying to woo a new skipper.

So does Dayton Moore get extended next? Do they extend him through 2015 to match Yost’s deal, or is that still up in the air?