MLB Rumors: Royals GM Dayton Moore could Jump to Atlanta

After the Altanta Braves canned GM Frank Wren on Monday, rumors began to fly that former Braves exec, and current Kansas City Royals GM Dayton Moore, could be a candidate for the job.

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The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that not only did Wren fail with big ticket contract signings like Dan Uggla and B.J. Upton, he also had personality clashes with many people inside the organization—including former manager Bobby Cox.

Almost immediately after the firing, Mark Bowman of MLB.com speculated that Royals GM Dayton Moore would be in the mix to take over in Atlanta:

"The Braves would look at all their options to fill the general manager’s position. But the most intriguing candidate appears to be Royals general manager Dayton Moore, who learned his craft while working for Braves president John Schuerholz from 1996-2006. Schuerholz was the club’s GM throughout that span.Moore has two years remaining on his contract and he has further endeared himself to Kansas City’s ownership by taking the Royals to the brink of a postseason berth this year. But there would certainly be many members of the Braves organization pulling for the chance to work for Moore, whose people skills have been likened to those possessed by Schuerholz."

That’s when things started to get interesting. First, Royals owner David Glass told MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel that he would not stand in the way of Moore if he wished to return to Atlanta, where Moore earned his stripes as a baseball executive, but said he’d be surprised if Moore left Kansas City. Meanwhile, Moore refused to discuss the issue when asked by the Kansas City Star.

Kansas City Star reporter Andy McCullough tweeted that:

Dayton Moore has two years left on his deal in KC, and has spent 8 years building toward this. To leave for Atlanta now would be a shock.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) September 22, 2014

Not only has Moore spend 8 years getting KC to the cusp of the playoffs, he grew up in Wichita, Kansas and was a boyhood fan of the Royals. In fact, Moore has often recounted the story how, as an 18-year-old, he drove to then Royals Stadium and watched from a parking lot across I-70 as Kansas City won the 1985 World Series.

It would take a lot to pry anyone loose from running their boyhood team. How many of us ever get to realize a childhood dream like that?

However, if Moore were to secure an offer from Atlanta, he would then be in the catbird seat to demand anything he might want from David Glass. More money for himself or for the roster? A contract extension beyond 2016? More autonomy?

All of those things could be on the table if Moore succeeds in getting the Royals to the playoffs and Atlanta makes him a job offer.

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