Royals Hire Matt Quatraro as New Manager
From the very moment the Kansas City Royals announced that Mike Matheny wouldn't be returning for the 2023 campaign, speculation began to build regarding who would be the team's next manager. Just before the end of October, the search officially came to a close. Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, now-former Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro is the Royals' choice as the man to lead them through their rebuild.
The Kansas City Royals are hiring Matt Quatraro as their new manager, sources tell ESPN. Quatraro, 48, has been the Rays' bench coach and also worked in Cleveland. He's adored among players, coaches and execs, and is regarded as the ideal type to shepherd the Royals' young core.
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Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at 5:16 p.m. CST
Quatraro, who has experience as manager and catching instructor in Tampa Bay's minor league ranks, has been one of the hottest names on the Major League Baseball coaching market for the past month or so. Once the end of the 2022 regular season drew near, the general expectation was that the 48-year-old would interview with multiple teams for their openings and possibly end up being hired. That was the case this fall, as Quatraro beat out final candidates such as Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough for Kansas City's job.
Renowned for his forward-thinking mindset and given that he's coming over from an analytics-friendly organization in Tampa Bay, the Royals are banking on Quatraro to be able to thrive as a communicator and leader at various levels of the big-league organization. Within the past 15 years, he's filled roles such as minor league hitting coordinator and assistant hitting coach and third base coach at the MLB level. Quatraro interviewed for a pair of managerial jobs (New York Mets and Oakland Athletics) after last season. Per the Royals, he now becomes the club's 18th full-time manager.
We’ve named Matt Quatraro the 18th full-time manager in franchise history.#TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/RhOOgYktb1
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) October 30, 2022
Royals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations/General Manager J.J. Picollo noted in the club's official press release that Quatraro "thoroughly impressed" the organization throughout the interview process. CEO and Chairman John Sherman added that Picollo and company conducted a "rigorous process" to find Kansas City's next manager. Here are Quatraro's first comments on joining the Royals:
“I’m grateful to Mr. Sherman and the ownership group, J.J. and the front office, and everyone else with the Royals for this opportunity. I already knew the talent on the roster and how great the fans in Kansas City are, and the interview process convinced me that the terrific things I’d heard about the organization’s culture are true. I can’t wait to get started, and for my family to get to Kansas City and be part of that community."
Per Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Quatraro's Royals contract is for three years with an option year tacked on for the 2026 campaign.
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Jordan Foote is the editor-in-chief of Inside the Royals, as well as the deputy editor of Arrowhead Report and a producer for Kansas City Sports Network. Jordan is a Baker University alumnus, earning his degree in Mass Media with a minor in Sports Administration. Follow him on Twitter @footenoted.