KANSAS CITY -- Emphasizing stability in leadership and the growth they’ve seen over the past three seasons, the Royals signed manager Matt Quatraro to a three-year contract extension, the club announced Sunday.
Quatraro is heading into the final season of his current contract, so the new extension begins in 2027 and runs through ‘29 with a club option for the ‘30 season. Extending Quatraro was always an expected part of the Royals’ offseason, although these deals typically get done closer to or in Spring Training. Instead, the Royals were able to get it done now.
“[Quatraro] understands the vision of the organization, the vision of ownership, and he carries that on through to our coaching staff and our players,” general manager J.J. Picollo said Monday. “I think even more important, when we try to think about what makes good managers and good leaders, they’re not afraid to ask questions. And I think [Quatraro’s] inquisitiveness, his curiosity – not only with the front office but also our pro scouts, our development guys – is next to none. He has a lot of great questions. He’s challenging in a very healthy way, and I think that’s why we’ve been able to have such a great working relationship.
“When we think about our team, where it is right now, stability is very important to the organization. I think what [Quatraro] has done over these last three years, and looking at our roster for the coming years, I think it’s important that stability in the managerial position is in place. With [Quatraro], we have a lot of trust in what he does. We know he’s the right man for the job, and we’re proud to have him back for the coming years.”
The Royals hired Quatraro as the 18th full-time manager in club history on Oct. 30, 2022, and in the past three seasons, they’ve gone 224-262, with Quatraro’s total wins already ranking seventh most by a manager in franchise history.
After going 56-106 during Quatraro’s first season in 2023, the Royals went 86-76 in ‘24 with a postseason appearance that led them to the American League Division Series -- a 30-win improvement that made the Royals, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, just the third team ever to make the postseason after a 100-loss season. That earned Quatraro a runner-up finish in AL Manager of the Year voting.
“I’d like to thank Mr. [Royals CEO/chairman John] Sherman, [president] Brooks [Sherman], J.J., [assistant general manager] Scott [Sharp], and the entire organization for affording us this opportunity to continue to manage the Royals,” Quatraro said. “It’s not a responsibility I take for granted or take lightly in any way. I’m honored to work alongside so many great coaches, so many great staff members. And it really, truly is, as the organization continues to grow, a full team effort in all aspects of baseball operations. … Above all, I have to thank the players. Ultimately, without them, none of us have these jobs.”
In 2025, the Royals did not make the playoffs, but they did finish above .500 again at 82-80 even with a rotation ravaged by injuries and an offense that ranked 25th in MLB in runs per game (4.02). That marked the franchise’s first consecutive winning seasons since 2013-15. According to Elias, the Royals are just the eighth team in the Wild Card Era to have back-to-back winning seasons following a 100-loss season.
Quatraro, his coaching staff and the Royals’ front office have implemented several changes throughout the organization in the past three seasons, with a large emphasis on analytics and modernizing baseball operations processes from the Major League team to player development, pro scouting and more.
It’s Quatraro’s inquisitive mind that has fueled a lot of that, Picollo said.
“It’s the constant curiosity that he has that allows us to get better as an organization,” Picollo said. “But it’s also his inclusivity with different departments – I think it’s outstanding. I’ve never worked with somebody in that position that’s as interested in hearing what other people have to say as he is, and I think that allows him to continue to grow and is why he continues to grow as a manager.”
For those who know Quatraro, that’s not surprising at all. He has a steady personality and doesn’t often get too worked up. That can be a benefit over a long season. He earns praise from players for the ways he leads the clubhouse. And he is always asking questions with the goal of improving the organization in mind.
“I think that’s probably the thing that I’ve grown the most in – understanding when you think you have an answer, look somewhere else,” Quatraro said. “When you think you have a decision finalized, look somewhere else and get somebody else’s opinion before you need to do it. It takes leg work, it takes time, but it’s extremely rewarding, and I think that’s how you keep people engaged and feeling valued in what they do.”