Dayton Moore may be a preferred candidate for the Braves’ open general manager position. However, the Royals’ top baseball executive has been unwilling to talk about a possible return to the organization where he began his career. Moore again declined to address the topic during a press conference in Kansas City Wednesday.
Moore, the Royals’ president of baseball operations and general manager, initially addressed rumors of a return to Atlanta by saying he’s focused on the job at hand. During a scheduled press conference Wednesday, Moore was again asked about the Braves opening.
“I get the connection there, because that’s where I started in this game,” Moore told reporters. “So it’s very natural for someone to ask that question ... but again I don’t think it requires me to comment at this point or needs me to comment further.”
Moore added he hasn’t yet been contacted by the Braves. He signed an extension with the Royals a year ago. Coincidentally, Moore said his team will soon be in Atlanta for a retreat at Martin Luther King Center.
Moore is from Missouri and grew up a Royals fan. He engineered a rebuild that flipped a lowly franchise into back-to-back World Series appearances and one championship.
Braves Hall of Fame general manager John Schuerholz’s reported top choice, Moore was in the Braves organization from 1994-2006. He served a variety of capacities before becoming assistant general manager in 2005.
The Braves GM job opened Oct. 2 when John Coppolella was forced to resign amid an MLB investigation into a breach of several rules, including alleged violations in the international market.
John Hart currently holds the president of baseball operations role in Atlanta. Hart, whose contract has expired, has been acting GM since the front-office scandal.
The Royals, a small-market franchise, could be staring at another rebuild as the key cogs of the championship team hit free agency. Some believe that further opens the door for Moore’s departure.
“To me, it’s really unprofessional to comment on the vacancy, the potential vacancy of another organization,” Moore said. “I will say this: Nobody has presented that to me at this point in time. I will say this: I’m extremely passionate about leading.
“I’m committed to leading. Not only as a general manager, but as a citizen of this community, as a husband, as a father. As long as I get the opportunity to do that, I’m doing what I believe I’m supposed to do.”
Despite Schuerholz’s affinity for Moore, he’s not in involved in day-to-day operations any longer. The GM call is expected to be Hart’s decision unless the MLB investigation changes circumstances.
During Wednesday’s press conference, Moore also expressed an affinity for Royals ownership.
“I can’t think of (anyone) that would be better to work for than the Glass family," Moore said. "I adore Mr. (David) Glass and the opportunity he has given us."
The AJC's David O'Brien recently explained further why Moore is becoming an increasingly unlikely candidate. But until the job is filled, Moore rumors will likely persist.
