The Royals appear to be nearing a one-year deal with arbitration eligible outfielder Alex Gordon, Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reports. The sides have a hearing scheduled for February 16th and they'll present their respective cases to a panel of arbitrators if they don't reach an agreement first.
An agreement could occur before the end of the week, Dutton writes. GM Dayton Moore has never gone to a hearing with a player since becoming Kansas City's GM. Gordon and agent Casey Close filed for $5.45MM, while the Royals offered $4.15MM, as MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows. The sides are expected to resume extension talks once they agree on a 2012 salary.
Dear Dayton Moore and Mr. Glass,
Sign Alex Gordon to an extension.
xoxo
Royals Nation
Not really. Try this –
Dear DM and Mr. Glass,
Please wait until Gordon shows he has more than one good season in him. We’ve already been through Hamelin and Berroa, and tying up money for years without any idea if he’s going to perform is a dumb idea – wasting dollars we could use to sign key free agents over the next couple of years.
Remember, we’re the fans who thought KK was our future at first base, so don’t be ignorant and listen to us.
xoxo
Royals Nation
Royals end up paying a lot more that way if Alex performs. Or it gets to the point they can’t afford him. Again, if he performs. A four year deal for about 40 million is a worthwhile risk.
Royals end up paying a lot more that way if Alex performs. Or it gets to the point they can’t afford him. Again, if he performs. A four year deal for about 40 million is a worthwhile risk.
I rather like the idea of a 1 year deal, see if he maintains his form, then sign an extension mid-season or so, or even next off season. He’s not going anywhere for a while.
Sign a one year deal only if you can’t work out an extension with Gordon before this goes to arbitration. There is no reason at all to go to arb and have all the hurt feelings and then trying to work out an extension. Honestly, just don’t let it go to arb. Pay him the 5.5 million now if it will help with that extension