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Royals GM on static payroll: 'We don't make excuses for our market'

Denny Medley / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

With the Kansas City Royals attempting to become contenders again, don't expect any major acquisitions this offseason.

For the first time in the organization's history, the Royals' payroll last season exceeded $140 million, but they ended the year with an 81-81 record and missed the postseason after becoming World Series champions in 2015.

General manager Dayton Moore admits the club is cash-strapped and any moves will have to come through trades, but proclaimed his confidence in a team that's poised to look fairly similar next season.

"We're in a position where our payroll is going to have to certainly not exceed where it is," Moore told Rustin Todd of the Kansas City Star.

"We understand the challenges and the economics of the game. We don't make excuses for our market. We don't make excuses for our television deal. It's our job to win with the players we have. We have great confidence in them to do so and to perform."

The Royals, unlike many other contenders looking to add this offseason, already have $130 million committed to 17 players after re-signing backup catcher Drew Butera to a two-year, $3.8-million contract. Kansas City's already lost Edinson Volquez (two years, $22 million with Miami) and Kendrys Morales (three years, $33 million from Toronto) in free agency.

Despite those losses, the Royals' roster is still deep. Last season, Kansas City was missing a lot of key contributors due to injury, including Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon, Jason Vargas, and Wade Davis.

Moore expects a motivated team to enter 2017 with a chip on its shoulder.

"I'm not frustrated with where we are today," Moore said. "I like our team. I think our team is going to be very hungry. I think they’re going to be very relentless. I think they’re going to be healthy. And they’re going to be excited to play."

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