Mike Matheny is out as Royals manager after posting a 165-219 record in three seasons with the team. 

 Although there was some noticeable improvement from years one to two in Matheny’s tenure, year three saw the Royals’ win total drop from 74 to 65, signaling the end of his time in Kansas City.

 This move follows up on the firing of longtime General Manager Dayton Moore in what seems to be a complete overhaul of the front office.

  With the managerial spot being left vacant, here are five candidates that the Royals should investigate.

Pedro Grifol

  This is an obvious one, as Grifol has been with the team since 2013 and served as the bench coach since 2020. Multiple teams showed interest in hiring Grifol in previous seasons, and his demand will be high again this year. The Royals might not want to hire from within again. If they do, Grifol is the best option.

Carlos Beltran

  A legend on the field for the club in the early 2000s, Beltran would be a fun candidate for an organization in need of a spark. The Mets hired Beltran as a manager in 2020, but he was fired by the team before the season began due to his involvement in the Astros sign-stealing scandal. The hire would be a risk considering Beltran’s limited experience but a big swing like this might be what the Royals need. 

Mike Shildt

  One of the more qualified coaches on the market, Shildt is looking for another chance after being fired from the Cardinals following the 2021 season. Shildt posted a 252-199 record in a little over three years, including three playoff appearances. The Royals just hired a former Cardinals manager in Mike Matheny, which didn’t go well, so ownership might have a hard time selling Shildt to the fanbase. Like how the Chiefs kept bringing in washed-up 49ers Quarterbacks, the Royals might find someone serviceable like this, but they won’t be the long-term answer.

Matt Quatraro

  This should be the guy the Royals throw an empty checkbook at. Quatraro was a part of the Cleveland and Tampa Bay coaching staffs in his young coaching career and carries a winning culture. Royals’ owner John Sherman spent time with Quatraro from 2014-2016 in Cleveland. Everywhere Quatraro has coached, he’s showcased a tremendous amount of winning and player development. Getting him in the building should be a priority over anything else.

Raúl Ibañez

  This one is a stretch, considering back in 2019 Ibañez expressed that he had no interest in interviewing for a manager position, but with time minds change. There are plenty of reasons to like this move, especially since he was a fantastic leader in the clubhouse back in 2014 when the Royals went to the playoffs for the first time in 29 years. There’s no doubt Ibañez could lead a locker room, but it’s an unknown if Ibañez is analytically prepared, and that’s something the Royals don’t want to gamble on.

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