Allard Baird is a well-known figure in the world of baseball, having held several significant positions throughout his career. He is best known for his tenure as the General Manager of the Kansas City Royals, a position he held from June 2000 to May 2006. During his time with the Royals, Baird was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the team's baseball operations, including player development, scouting, and contract negotiations.

Baird's tenure as GM was marked by a series of rebuilding efforts, as the Royals struggled to compete in the highly competitive American League Central division. Despite these challenges, Baird was able to make several notable moves that helped to shape the future of the franchise. He was responsible for drafting key players like Zack Greinke, Billy Butler, and Alex Gordon, all of whom would go on to have successful careers in the Major Leagues.

In addition to his drafting successes, Baird also made several significant trades during his time with the Royals. Perhaps the most notable of these was the trade that brought Carlos Beltran to the Royals in 2001. Beltran would go on to become one of the most successful players in franchise history, earning multiple All-Star selections and winning several Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

Despite these successes, Baird's tenure with the Royals was also marked by a number of challenges. The team struggled to consistently compete, and Baird was often criticized for his inability to build a winning roster. These struggles ultimately led to his dismissal in 2006.

Following his departure from the Royals, Baird went on to hold several other positions within Major League Baseball. He served as a special assignment scout for the Boston Red Sox from 2006 to 2011, before being promoted to Vice President of Player Personnel, a position he held until 2015. In this role, Baird was responsible for overseeing the team's scouting and player development efforts.

In 2015, Baird was named Senior Vice President of Player Personnel for the New York Mets, a position he held until 2019. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the team's player development and scouting efforts.

Throughout his career, Baird has been recognized for his ability to identify and develop talent. Despite the challenges he faced during his time with the Royals, his impact on the franchise is still felt today, with many of the players he drafted and developed playing key roles in the team's recent success. His work with the Red Sox and Mets has also been highly regarded, further cementing his reputation as one of the top talent evaluators in the game.

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