KC Royals: Dayton Moore Says The Window To Win Is Now

KC Royals fans have to wondering what general manager Dayton Moore will do after the stunning news that Alex Gordon will miss the next three to four weeks with a broken wrist. I think some recent statements Moore made to ESPN’s Elizabeth Merrill a hold a clue:

“Look, one of the things I’m most proud of is that we’ve done everything we could to win every single year. I’ve said the same thing to our baseball operations department, our players, every single year: All of our success is tied together, and we have a small window to win. The window is now. It’s the same window it was in 2007, and the same window it is in 2016.”

That sounds like a very conventional piece of pleasing Kansas City Royals fans by Moore. Fans care about this year, for the most part. They’re making decisions whether to watch the game today, or if they want to buy tickets. Ultimately, they’re hoping to see a post-season winner within the next few months.

The reason for Moore’s urgency to win now is the uncertainty inherent in baseball:

“Nobody can predict what happens in a baseball game. If you could, nobody would show up. So we just go out, put the best team we can on the field, and go out and play.”

Yet, it was just a few years ago that Moore kept telling KC Royals fans the “The Process” was going to take time. Just take a look at this Moore quotes from 2006 and 2010:

January 2006: (CJ Online)

“It takes four to five years to develop your farm system and get that steady flow. But there’s no doubt that we’ll be able to do that.”

May 2010: (Dick Kaegel MLB.com)

“Look what Colorado did, look what Minnesota did, look what the New York Yankees did,” Moore said. “It took the Yankees seven years. They committed to it in ’89, and finally in ’96 they won with homegrown guys. I’m not talking about getting to .500, I’m talking about winning the World Series when I say eight to 10 years.”

If we throw out the win every year fan service, Moore has been uncannily accurate with how long his KC Royals rebuilding project was going to take. Moore took the GM job in 2006. By the winter after the 2010 season, the Kansas City Royals were hailed by analysts across baseball as the best farm system in a generation. They won the World Series five years later.

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Five years to build the prospect core that hit the team in 2011, and five more years for those players to mature.  Eight years until their first winning season in 2013.

Even Moore’s fan service becomes factual when you add the qualification that you do everything you can to win now, as long as it doesn’t destroy your future.

The bottom line is that Dayton Moore knows exactly where his team is in “The Process”. Coming from an Atlanta front office that was in the midst of winning 14 consecutive division titles, the Kansas City Royals are in win every year for as long as you can mode.

With Alex Gordon is out three to four weeks, these statements take on a bit more significance. Add in rumors that the KC Royals have inquired about Nick Markakis and Jay Bruce and you have some hot rumors.

Don’t be surprised if the KC Royals again make deals to push his club toward the post-season. Despite all the protestations that the Kansas City Royals knew that no help was on the way before the season began, Moore knows he’s committed to winning this year.

Next: Why Trading For Nick Markakis Makes Sense

Look for some outfield help coming to Kansas City soon. Moore could very well deal prospects that will surprise many people. Stay tuned KC Royals fans. The trading stove is heating up.