Royals skipper Ned Yost stamped out any doubt that may have arisen as to his status for 2018, telling reporters including MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan that he is going to return.
Yost’s deal runs through next year, so the news isn’t much of a surprise. But from the outside, at least, there was perhaps at least some cause to wonder whether the 63-year-old would desire to keep grinding. Kansas City is going to miss the postseason for the second consecutive year, after all, and will see several core players hit the open market at season’s end.
No matter to Yost, who says he’s well-positioned to “take the flack” for overseeing a roster transition that could come with some frustrations. He seems inclined to take things one year at a time moving forward, but also didn’t exactly commit to retiring at the end of his current contract.
“Am I going to see this thing through? No. But I want to get a firm footing and firm foundation on the ground so someone else … in two years, whatever it is …[can step in] and get back to where we feel we can compete again.”
While the team could always decide to go with another manager, that seems quite unlikely. Yost took over the Royals’ dugout in the middle of a dreadful 2010 season, then oversaw two more losing campaigns while the organization transitioned. But Kansas City went on to reel off three consecutive winning seasons from that point, culminating in a 2015 World Series title.
The K.C. skipper signed his most recent deal after that moment of glory, marking the latest in a string of short-term extensions that have kept him on board for eight seasons thus far. Overall, Yost has led the team to a 624-628 record. While it’s hard to know just what the roster will look like next year, it seems as if the Royals will have a familiar hand writing out the lineup cards and guiding the ship.
Being the team’s skipper is a very difficult job. You can never ever please everyone, and fans are always second guessing your decisions (usually after hindsight being 20/20). The skipper is always second guessing his own decisions as well.
Next year should be very interesting for the Royals with so many big names hitting free agency. A solid foundation definitely needs to be implemented in 2018. Going to be a busy off season for alot of teams for sure.
You are correct, but this is Yost. He rarely second guesses himself. At the very least, he doesn’t admit it and gets salty at those that ask if he does.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Yost, but there are times I want to ring his neck, like putting a struggling Herrera in for a save when you NEED to win games.
If my boss allowed someone, who seems to fail a lot, to head a project that is vital to the company, I may look at him a little differently.
I understand letting them “work through” their troubles, but chose the situations a little more wisely.
Yost, despite some MLB success, is one of the most classless managers the game has seen in some time.
KC is back to sucking, but at least they won a title, unlike the Pirates who did nothing during their tiny window of winning.
How many others did nothing during that same window of time? Twins? A’s? Brewers? Reds? Rays? I can keep going
agreed TJECK109!
my brewers had a little window with braun, fielder, weeks, hart, etc etc. damn, they should’ve won something
For the Royals, Wade Davis would have been the difference between a Wild Card spot and being out of the playoffs. Man, I will miss this team. Cain, Hos, Moose, Esky…this has been so much fun.
I don’t think that’s true TBH. The trade flopped to be sure, but I doubt a single reliever would’ve made that much of a difference
Starting Pitching. Average starting pitching would probably have them in the wild card.
Royals may be facing some significant retooling in the coming years, but they can take comfort in the fact that the Tigers will have a firm lock on the basement for a long time to come.