Just hours after their final game of the 2022 MLB regular season, the Kansas City Royals announced that they have fired manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred.
Specifically, the Royals tweeted that Executive Vice President and General Manager J.J. Picollo announced the news; the Royals fired longtime GM Dayton Moore two weeks ago.
Kansas City Royals Executive Vice President and General Manager J.J. Picollo announced that manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred will not return for the 2023 season.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) October 6, 2022
Matheny later issued a statement:
UPDATE: Ousted manager Mike Matheny issues a statement via @Royals. Finishes 3 seasons as skipper with a 165-219 record. #TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/80CU8UwNmz
— John Holt (@JohnHoltNews) October 6, 2022
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, it’s the “first move in what’s expected to be a giant managerial carousel this winter.”
The Kansas City Royals have fired manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred, the team announced. First move in what’s expected to be a giant managerial carousel this winter.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 6, 2022
Tony La Russa announced on Monday that he’s stepping down as manager of the Chicago White Sox — an AL Central rival to the Royals — for the 2023 season due to health issues.
Matheny, 52, managed the Royals from 2020-22, with losing records in all three seasons. In 2022, the Royals went 65-97 (.401 winning percentage). which was the fifth-worst record in the majors. It was expected to be a bad team, but the Royals won 10 fewer games than the preseason FanGraphs projection.
From 2012-18, Matheny served as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals and reached the postseason four times — including an NL pennant in 2013 — before being fired in July of the 2018 season. He was also a four-time All-Star catcher as a player.
Eldred, 54, was the Kansas City pitching coach from 2018-22. The Royals pitching staff had the fourth-worst ERA in the majors this season at 4.69 and finished last in the AL in numerous statistics.
The 2022 Royals are just the second AL team since 1955 whose pitching staff finished dead last in the league in hits, runs, walks, and strikeouts.
The other team was…the 2006 Royals.
One team got Dayton Moore hired. The other one got Dayton Moore fired.
— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) October 6, 2022
Here’s a peek at how the baseball world is reacting to the Royals firing Matheny and Eldred:
As for Cal Eldred…I've already said enough. He's accountable for one of the worst pitching staffs of the 21st century. But it wasn't his fault that the Royals kept bringing him back as the pitching coach in the first place, at least three years after he merited a pink slip.
— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) October 6, 2022
Just a couple thoughts on Mike Matheny/managers in general. The first is that Matheny was better than I expected. I mentioned this to @SorenPetro yesterday. I think there are teams where Matheny can succeed and even thrive. I don't think the #Royals are that team. Obviously.
— David Lesky (@DBLesky) October 6, 2022
The Royals made the right move. They need a new voice. I always admired Matheny's ability to admit mistakes and always try to learn what's new in baseball. Royals, however, likely need someone — at this point in baseball's evolution — whose 1st language is analytics, not 2nd.
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) October 6, 2022
A highlight reel of Mike Matheny's time in Kansas City. pic.twitter.com/xOpqWFaWev
— Dan Szymborski (@DSzymborski) October 6, 2022
#WhiteSox manager Mike Matheny would be the most White Sox thing ever
— Adam Rosen (@arrosen76) October 6, 2022
I need Mike Matheny following Tony La Russa for the White Sox like I need air to breathe https://t.co/7HEKeT6MVr
— Greg Huss (@OutOfTheVines) October 6, 2022