Royals GM doesn't regret not trading stars after World Series win
Dayton Moore joined The Program 810 on Friday to discuss the trade market, and the Kansas City Royals general manager had a lot to say regarding the team's five notable pending free agents.
"If we were going to deal these players, the time to have dealt these players was right after the 2015 World Series," Moore said, clearly alluding to Jason Vargas, Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, and Eric Hosmer.
"They had at least two years of control, (and were) coming off a World Series championship," Moore elaborated to host Soren Petro.
That might be how some teams do business, but not Moore. "Some baseball people would say that's the smart, that's the shrewd way to do it. Baseball is more about heart than the head."
Moore wanted to make it clear that he has no regrets about opting not to deal players that may end up being trade bait this season. "That's just not something we would do or were willing to do. You start trading away your marquee players after winning a World Series, that's not good ... that's wrong in my opinion," said the 50-year-old executive.
The Royals, currently last in their division and 4 1/2 games back of first place, could end up being trade deadline sellers.
Vargas, Escobar, Cain, Moustakas, and Hosmer are all on deals that expire following this season, likely suppressing their value somewhat, but would still be valuable acquisitions for teams looking for a postseason push. Factor in Kelvin Herrera, whose contract expires following the 2018 season, and the Royals have an excellent basis on which to rebuild.
Compounding matters further for Moore and the rest of the Royals front office is that the new CBA - ratified this past offseason - no longer guarantees top draft picks as compensation for players that leave via free agency. Instead, teams are only guaranteed at least a third-round selection for a departing free agent who has rejected a qualifying offer.
Moore denied that his team will tank, though. "If tanking is a part of your mentality," Moore said, "you shouldn’t be in professional sports. In fact, you shouldn’t be in sports. Why should you have the privilege to lead if you talk about tanking?"