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Moustakas had to go, but deal underscores how Royals are stranded between eras

While you were sleeping late Friday night into early Saturday morning, the inevitable-turned-imminent turned reality: Mike Moustakas, the prospect general manager Dayton Moore turned to as the first choice in his first full-fledged draft with the Royals and who became a critical force in the revival of the franchise, was traded late Friday to Milwaukee as the Royals set about rebuilding once again.

It’s a bummer, but you could think of it this way:

These last few months made for an unexpected encore here with Moustakas, who after last season was presumed gone on the free-agent market but became Exhibit A in an offseason marked by something between suspicious sudden restraint and frugality among ownership.