Ex-Royals GM Moore to Colorado?

ROCKIES MAILBAG

In 2022, Dayton Moore was promoted to the Kansas City Royals president of baseball operations, but he was fired by in September 2022, just prior to the end of the season. Moore had been with the Royals for 16 seasons. ED ZURGA — GETTY IMAGES

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By Patrick Saunders

psaunders@denverpost.com

Q>> I read recently in a national writer’s notes column that the Rockies are supposedly talking to Dayton Moore, the longtime Royals front office executive, about a role with the team. Do you see something like that happening, whether with Moore or someone else? If so, what role would you guess that person would have? Adviser, or maybe president of baseball operations?

— Dave, Fort Collins

Patrick>> I checked out the column you are referring to by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman is well-connected, especially to super agent Scott Boras. So I imagine he didn’t write his tidbit without some degree of validity behind it.

However, I’m skeptical. Moore did not return my text, and when I asked Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt if the club is interested in bringing Moore into the front office, Schmidt said, “Not that I’m aware of.”

Here is what Heyman wrote:

“Word is that the Rockies could be interested in hiring former Royals president Dayton Moore in a high-ranking role, but probably not as general manager because ownership is believed supportive of Bill Schmidt. (For the record, Moore said he hadn’t heard that. He has now though.)

“Moore, a rare small-market GM to win a World Series (in 2015 with the Royals), was shockingly let go by new Royals owner John Sherman. (It’s believed Moore’s scouting background wasn’t what Sherman wanted. Like a lot of owners, he seeks even more analytics.)”

If Moore does end up in Colorado, I could see him as a fit as president of baseball operations. I’ve long said that the Rockies need outside voices and perspectives. I’ve always thought he was a sharp baseball man.

Q>> With the apparent collapse of RSNs (Regional Sports Networks) around the country, the future of viewing your hometown team looks in jeopardy. With Altitude and Comcast still at odds showing championship teams, what platform would show the Rockies, and at what cost for a sub-.500 team? What does this do to the value of the Rockies franchise, and other small-market teams? Cheers.

— Robert Emmerling, Limon

Patrick>> Essentially, things should remain status quo for the time being. The Rockies will remain on AT&T SportsNet for the rest of the season. Then we will see a new setup for 2024, under the Major League Baseball umbrella. That setup might include both streaming and a local TV outlet. Emphasis on might.

Some background: In February, Warner Brothers Discovery announced it would cut off its rights payments to the Rockies, Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates, whose games it airs through AT&T SportsNet. The deadline was supposed to be March 31, but games are still being televised.

However, according to a report last month in the Sports Business Journal, a deal now being discussed would have WBD continue to pay its rights fees and produce/distribute games for the entire 2023 season. At the end of the season, WBD would walk away, and the rights would revert back to the teams.

In Colorado and Pittsburgh, that means that Major League Baseball will be in charge of producing and distributing games next season. MLB has been constructing an in-house, local sports division that will produce and distribute games locally as those rights return to the teams.

Q>> What can (should!) the Rockies learn from the Nuggets’ recent success?

— Mark Newton, Denver

Patrick>> That’s a huge question with many layers of answers. But it boils down to some very good draft choices, beginning with second-rounder Nikola Jokic and first-rounder Jamal Murray. Some savvy trades, most especially Aaron Gordon. And also, Denver found a coach, in Mike Malone, who had a hand in shaping the roster to fit his vision.

Also, the Nuggets are built to take advantage of playing at a mile-high altitude. The Rockies have never found a formula for consistent success at altitude.