KANSAS CITY -- When Dayton Moore hired Mike Matheny as Ned Yost’s replacement following the 2019 season, it was a move many in the organization saw coming.

Matheny, the former catcher who had prior managerial experience in St. Louis, had spent the last 11 months as Moore’s special advisor, and when Matheny was officially introduced as the 17th manager in Royals history, Moore said he impressively passed his 11-month interview.

Three years later, neither Moore nor Matheny are with the Royals. And when team owner John Sherman fired Moore on Sept. 21, Matheny understood what that meant for him.

“The day that Dayton was let go, I saw this coming,” Matheny told MLB.com on Thursday, a day after the Royals fired him following the 2022 season finale. “I think a lot of that had to do with the theme of change that was obvious. There was considerable heat all season long. All of that was leading in a direction that became pretty clear to me how this was all going to play out.

“Knowing that, I just wanted to be intentional down the stretch to keep doing what we were doing. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Matheny ended his Royals tenure with a 165-219 record, including this season’s 65-97 finish. The Royals believed they could improve in 2022. Instead, they finished in last place in the American League Central and are rethinking their infrastructure. Executive vice president/general manager J.J. Picollo is now in charge of a busy offseason that not only includes a managerial search but also a pitching coach hire, as well as other adjustments throughout the organization.

When Matheny took over, he inherited a 103-loss team still in the early stages of its rebuild. His first year at the helm was a pandemic-shortened 2020 season. In 2021, COVID-19 still presented logistical challenges. This year began with a delay to Spring Training because of the lockout.

He wasn’t responsible for the roster he was given, nor the circumstances of each season. But his messaging remained consistent, in that the Royals needed to win.

“I believed in what we were doing here,” Matheny said. “There was an easier way to go about it, saying that we were a ways away, but I believed in the talent and the human spirit. I don’t regret that approach at all.

“The issue is that we just didn’t win enough. I can’t say that there was one thing that I’d necessarily do differently to prepare and compete to win. I’m really proud of the staff, of the players and how they went about it every single day. There was never a day where I thought that they weren’t competing. It was a joy to be a part of.”

There were times when that messaging turned into an intense atmosphere in the clubhouse. But Picollo said Thursday that, through discussions with players, he didn’t find it was problematic.

“I think everybody appreciated that Mike is a competitor and he wanted to win,” Picollo said. “I had players tell me they were glad Mike got on them, so there’s a respect there. I don’t think it’s why we didn’t win more.”

Matheny’s goal was consistency with his players, and to be there for them both on and off the field.

“When you ask if there was anything I’d do differently, there were no major incidents or frictions,” Matheny said. “There were issues, and a good portion of this job is problem-solving because they’re people. I had some good conversations with the players and staff. In the end, we’re not going to make everybody happy. … I take it as an absolute privilege and pleasure to be involved in helping players grow. In the end, I believe they understood that I was trying to do what’s best for the team and trying to help them individually.”

Matheny, 52, doesn’t know what’s next in his career. Smart and thoughtful, he is praised for his baseball acumen, so he could find another opportunity. For now, his focus is on his family.

“I’ve been through something like this enough to know that right now is not a good time to even give an answer,” he said. “You’re dealing with the emotions of being hurt, of disappointment, of frustration. I will be prayerfully considering where I’m supposed to be. If something in the baseball world makes it obvious that’s where I need to be, hopefully I’m wise enough to see what that looks like.”