The Kansas City Royals fired president of baseball operations Dayton Moore on Wednesday.
J.J. Picollo effectively will replace Moore, who was in his 16th season with the Royals. Picollo was named executive vice president and general manager overseeing baseball operations on Wednesday.
Under Moore’s watch, Kansas City advanced to the World Series in 2014 before winning the title the following season.
“Dayton’s 16 years of leadership here will always mark the transformation into a World Championship club,” Royals chairman and CEO John Sherman said in a statement. “Our fans, our region and our community will never forget the excitement we shared in back-to-back pennants and the World Series championship in 2015. He always put the Kansas City Royals first, and we’re stronger today because of it.”
The Royals are out of playoff contention for the seventh straight season and 59-89 heading into Wednesday’s game against the visiting Minnesota Twins.
Moore, 55, was hired as general manager of the Royals in 2006, with Picollo one of his first hires as director of player development. Moore held that post until he was promoted to president last September, with then-assistant general manager Picollo elevated to the GM position.
“J.J.’s experience in baseball has prepared him for the challenges ahead,” Sherman said. “He has played a key role in evaluating and developing many of our franchise’s most talented players, including the core that won the 2015 World Series and the young core on the major league team today. He will bring a new lens and approach to leading our baseball operations. I look forward to working with J.J. as we continue to build and develop our team to compete at a high level.”
–Field Level Media