The 2023 Kansas City Royals will be primarily defined by what makes them different from past seasons. Dayton Moore, who had been in charge of baseball operations since before the midterm elections of George W. Bush’s second term, is gone. Mike Matheny, who had managed the Royals for each of the last three seasons, is gone. So, too, is pitching coach Cal Eldred, who had been in his position since before Patrick Mahomes played his first regular season game.
But, paradoxically, the 2023 Royals will also be defined by what makes them similar to previous seasons. JJ Picollo is now the big cheese in charge of baseball operations, but Picollo, too, has been with the organization since 2006.