Royals smartly sign former Guardians coach to long-term extension as manager 

In 2023, Matt Quatraro took over as the Kansas City Royals manager to near-disastrous results. While the injection of Quatraro gave the team a little more long-term momentum than it had the year prior under previous manager Mike Matheny, the on-field results weren’t, as they finished the year 56-106. 

But all that changed in 2024 when the Royals shocked the baseball world by authoring one of the best turnarounds in MLB history to go 86-76 and make the postseason as a Wild Card team. And although they took a step back last season and missed the postseason, the future is still clearly bright in Kansas City. 

On Sunday, the Royals’ front office confirmed exactly how bright they think that future is by signing Quatraro to a three-year extension. It’s a huge badge of honor for the 52-year-old, who spent seven years working as a coach in Cleveland’s system before going down the path that led to him managing the Royals. 

Even though the Royals didn’t really stand in Cleveland’s way last season, their star turn under Quatraro can’t be ignored, and having in the fold long-term will make them a dangerous club for years to come. 

The Royals were smart to sign manager Matt Quatraro to an extension

Quatraro's 2024 season was the stuff of legend, as he helped lead Kansas City on a turnaround that included a 36-win improvement and postseason berth. He ended up finishing second in the American League Manager of the Year voting behind Guardians manager Stephen Vogt.

He started his post-playing career by working as a hitting instructor and manager at a variety of minor league levels in the Tampa Bay Rays’ system before being hired to Terry Francona’s Major League staff in 2014. 

Quatraro spent three years working in Cleveland as the assistant hitting coach before being hired as the Rays’ third base coach after the 2017 season. He was with the Rays until he joined the Royals as the man on the top step of the dugout.

His previous deal with the Royals was set to expire after the 2026 season so it makes sense the Royals elected to work out a deal with Quataro as opposed to having him enter the season as a lame duck manager. 

He’s not the first figure on the team to earn an extension recently either, as Kansas City’s front office inked starter Seth Lugo to a two-year extension during the season and third baseman Maikel Garcia to a five-year, $52.5 million deal. 

They also signed former Guardian Lane Thomas to a deal in free agency and swung a trade for Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Isaac Collins. Those aren’t the kind of moves a team does if they don’t think they can win next season.

The Guardians went 8-5 against the Royals last season, with three of those wins coming in the final month of the season as the Guardians made their mad dash toward the postseason. It’s hard to believe Kansas City will be the same kind of afterthought next season, especially given the amount of continuity on their roster.