Kansas City Royals Dayton Moore Executive Of The Year Candidate

Aug 9, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Ryan Madson (middle) gets water dumped on him by catcher Salvador Perez (13) after beating the Chicago White Sox 5-4 at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Dayton Moore’s Bargain Moves

However, where Dayton Moore has truly earned his bones has been with his bargain moves. Moore made a series of signings for barely more than league minimum to improve the Kansas City Royals depth. Almost all of these additions have yielded significant help for his club.

Moore grabbed pitcher Chris Young the moment he became available, despite lack of interest from other teams. The 36-year-old Comeback Player Of The Year for 2014 has merely posted a 11-6 record, 3.17 ERA in 117.0 innings in 17 starts and 16 relief appearances. Young became an important fill-in for the rotation when Danny Duffy, Edinson Volquez, and Jason Vargas all missed starts in May. Chris Young also seems poised to play a significant role in the playoffs, either as the KC Royals fourth starter or top long reliever. 

Betsided

Moore added Kris Medlen, who was coming off his second Tommy John surgery with Atlanta. Medlen who had been the no. 1 starter for the Braves, has responded with excellent bullpen outings combined with seven starts after joining the the rotation in mid-August. While Medlen’s ERA is a mediocre 4.30, he’s soaked up innings and earned wins when the rotation really needed help.

Dayton Moore found a dominant relief arm in former Phillies closer Ryan Madson. The 34-year-old Madson had not pitched since 2011 after suffering a series of injuries that included Tommy John surgery on his elbow. All Madson has done in 2015 is post a  2.24 ERA in 65 innings pitched with a 8.1 K/9. More importantly, Madson has now stepped in as the seventh-inning man in the Kansas City Royals three headed bullpen monster when closer Greg Holland went down with an elbow injury.

Moore also plucked Joe Blanton off the bonepile after missing the 2014 season due to lack of interest. Blanton made four starts for the KC Royals in May, and posted a solid 3.89 ERA in 41.2 innings pitched. Joe Blanton has gone on to pitch another 30.2 innings for the Pirates after a July trade to the tune of a 1.76 ERA working exclusively as a reliever.

When backup catcher Erik Kratz suffered and injury in May, Dayton Moore replaced him with Drew Butera. While Butera hasn’t hit (.557 OPS), he’s played well enough defensively that manager Ned Yost had the confidence to sit starter Salvador Perez more often.

These moves helped the Kansas City Royals to an American League best record of 61-41 on at the deadline.

Next: Dayton Moore's Deadline Deals

Sep 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (47) walks off the field after being relieved in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Dayton Moore’s Deadline Deals

Dayton Moore did not sit on his laurels at the deadline. Instead, he traded away five pitching prospects to strengthen the KC Royals weaknesses anticipating a second consecutive playoff berth.

Moore acquired ace Johnny Cueto and super-utility man Ben Zobrist shortly before the July trade deadline. While Johnny Cueto hit a rough patch for five starts, he still figures to be the Kansas City Royals ace during the post-season.  

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Ben Zobrist has been terrific for the KC Royals hitting .299/.383/.488 with seven home runs in 230 at bats. Zobrist filled in for Alex Gordon in left until Gordon’s return in September, and now has taken over for Omar Infante at second base after Infante’s injury.

Finally, Dayton Moore signed Jonny Gomes as a fill-in when Alex Rios and Kelvin Herrera caught chicken pox in late August. While Gomes has not played particularly well for the Kansas City Royals, he still figures to be a valuable right-handed pinch hitter in October.

Overall, Moore had a tremendous 2015. I think he’s ahead of Alex Anthopolous because he did not compromise his future nearly as severely as Toronto’s GM did at the trade deadline. He’s ahead of Jon Daniels because his team is stronger heading into the playoffs. And I think Moore is ahead of Neal Huntington due to changing the entire perception of his franchise in the last season.

When 2015 began, most pundits concluded that the Kansas City Royals 2014 American League pennant was a fluke accomplishment of a team that got hot at the right time. Now, pundits across the league are treating the KC Royals front office with new respect as a team that found hidden value ahead of the curve.

In my book, that makes Dayton Moore a clear favorite for the 2015 Executive Of The Year.

Next: Chris Young Pitches Himself Into Playoff Rotation Picture