Royals CEO Sherman non-committal on Matheny’s future, leaving decision to J.J. Picollo

If there’s a vote of confidence in the works toward Kansas City Royals manager Mike Matheny, it will come from newly minted head of baseball operations J.J. Picollo.

Matheny’s fate, and that of his coaching staff, rests in Picollo’s hands.

Royals chairman and CEO John Sherman announced the dismissal of president of baseball operations Dayton Moore on Wednesday before a night game against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Sherman cited the club falling short of expectations and a need for a change in leadership as reasons during an afternoon news conference at the ballpark.

Sherman immediately elevated Picollo as the new head of the Royals’ baseball operations department. Picollo’s new title will be executive vice president and general manager.

But that leaves uncertainty surrounding Matheny’s future, particularly after Sherman neither endorsed nor condemned the club’s current manager.

Matheny’s hire was made by Moore following the 2019 season.

“That’s J.J.’s job, to evaluate that,” Sherman said when asked if a managerial change could be forthcoming. “I’ll certainly spend time with him, and I’m interested in his thoughts on that. But I’m going to leave that to J.J.”

During spring training, the Royals exercised an option on Matheny’s contract, extending it through the 2023 season.

A former four-time Gold Glove-winning catcher who spent parts of 13 seasons in the majors, Matheny is in his second stint as a manager in the majors. He previously managed the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Royals entered Wednesday night’s game 30 games below .500 with a record of 59-89. They’re in fourth place out of five teams in the American League’s Central Division.

During his tenure with the Royals, Matheny has compiled a 159-211 record. That includes a pandemic-shortened 60-game season in 2020, Matheny’s first season at the helm.

The Royals went 26-34 in 2020 and 74-88 last season.

Fourteen games remained this season, including Wednesday night’s home contest against the Twins.

“We’ve got a job to do,” Matheny said. “You don’t walk into this business with a blind eye that you’re going to walk out on your own terms. Change is inevitable in the game. But it’s not something that you should dwell on, in my opinion, because it’s one of those things that is out of your control.

“What we do control is how we prepare. How we come out here and compete. How we treat people with respect. How we respect the game. In the meanwhile, those things take care of themselves.”

In seven seasons with the Cardinals (2012-18), Matheny went 591-474 and won an NL pennant and made a World Series appearance in 2013. He managed the NL All-Star Team in 2014. He also had a 100-win season in 2015.

Matheny was fired by the Cardinals during the 2018 season having never finished below .500 in his tenure with the club.

“I’ve been a victim of it in the past, being so concerned, looking over my shoulder,” Matheny said. “Whether it’s as a player or in this role — one, you’re less effective. The second thing is, you don’t enjoy the ride. I’m encouraging these guys to enjoy the ride.”

The Royals’ players watched Sherman’s news conference on television screens in the clubhouse. When it was over, Moore entered the clubhouse and addressed them, as well as the Royals’ coaching, clubhouse and support staffs, directly.

After that, they prepared for the second game of their final homestand of the season ... and the looming specter of more potential changes ahead.

“We all try not to play GM,” Royals infielder Nicky Lopez said. “They have a job to do. We just have to compete every single day on the field. Right now, when stuff like this happens, there’s uncertainty floating around all the time. So it’s one of those things where you have to just leave it up to them and go about our business.

“Right now, it’s kind of tough and emotional. It’s just a weird time, for sure.”