Kansas City Royals tab rookie in controversial combined Manager, General Manager role
It’s October, 2026, and only eight clubs have earned the right to call themselves champions of the world since the Kansas City Royals achieved that distinction in 2015. That hasn’t stopped owner John Sherman from making big changes in an attempt bring back the good times to Kansas City.
After a playoff appearance in 2024, back-to-back misses have cost Matt Quatraro his job. An unfavourable tiebreaker with Detroit meant a missed wild card place in 2025, while 2026 looked promising at the All-Star break. A late season collapse, however, saw the ballclub finish with a 76-86 record, and a third-place finish in the division. Quatraro leaves Kansas City with an overall 225-231 [.493] record.
2025 Wild Card Standings
2026 Final Standings
J. J. Picollo has been shifted sideways to the Assistant GM role because the Royals have appointed Football Manager expert, baseball novice Colin Stewart to the dual role of GM and Manager. The 49-year-old Scotsman will take his first role in baseball with immediate pressure due to his inexperience and lack of name recognition amongst Royals fans.
Before reviewing the club that Stewart has inherited, a quick recap on what’s been happening in MLB since 2024 through a Royals lens.