Sports

Actions

Dayton Moore: Royals commit to paying, retaining all minor leaguers despite COVID-19 pandemic

Posted at 9:56 PM, May 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-29 23:43:16-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Royals General Manager Dayton Moore confirmed Friday that the organization will continue to pay its minor leaguers for the whole year and will not release any players in a cost-cutting move.

Moore also said the team will not layoff or furlough employees, though some will be required take pay cuts, or as Moore phrased it "sacrifices," to make sure that happens.

Before any salary reductions were made, Royals owner John Sherman, who bought the team in November, made sure to go through how each cut would affect employees' families, according to Moore.

"With owners like John Sherman, I'm gonna tell you right now, baseball is gonna be in good shape," Moore said. "This guy is going to be a great owner for the Kansas City Royals and an example of how to lead in baseball, I can tell you that.”

Since the MLB season was put on hold in March, the Royals have conducted more than 1,240 Zoom calls, an average of about 17 per day within the organization.

Moore has consitently stressed that communication in key during times like these. He also applauded new Manager Mike Matheny on his efforts to stay in touch with players as they await the resumption of the 2020 season.

“We've got to trust in ownership, we've got to trust in the commissioner's office and the player's association and players to ultimately get an agreement," Moore said of his hopes that an agreement would be struck to allow a 2020 season soon.