The Royals announced today that they have declined their side of a mutual option over outfielder Alex Gordon. He exercised his end of the option, meaning he’ll receive a $4MM buyout.
There was never any question of this outcome. The mutual option was valued at a hefty $23MM, far outstripping Gordon’s present-day on-field abilities.
It remains unknown whether Gordon will return to play in 2020. All indications are that he’ll only suit up for Kansas City if he does wish to continue his career. The organization has indicated interest in a return, but it’d surely come at a much lower price point.
Gordon, 35, is still a qualify defender and surely represents a valuable clubhouse presence, but there’s no reason to think his bat will perk back up. He showed a bit of a spark at times in 2019 but still finished with only a .266/.345/.396 batting line. That’s the fourth consecutive campaign of below-average offensive output for Gordon, who hasn’t topped a .400 slugging percentage since the season preceding his just-concluded contract.
Best player ever born in Lincoln, Nebraska. I remember when his rookie baseball cards were worth a lot, now you cannot give them away. University of Nebraska star along with ole Joba Chamberlain.
One of the most overrated players in baseball history. He had a couple seasons there but was praised beyond belief. Yawn. We called him Mister Average in Chicago.
Overrated. By who? He is one of the more consistent above average players in the MLB.
more consistent above average DEFENDERS in the MLB.
His bat leaves a lot to be desired.
2011-2014 he was above average. Since then he has been the example of average to below average based on numbers.
We did? Never heard him called that before and I’ve lived in Chicago 41 years!
Nobody in Chicago cares about Alex Gordon.
Sheep. When I said we called him Mister Average in Chicago, I didn’t mean you, I meant me and the boys I played ball with and ran with with.. I go back 63 years living in Chicago. Not sure if you were trying to funny or maybe you felt left out. I hope you understand my post now.
He and his ring, his millions and his gold gloves call you nothing…Because that’s what you are, Mr. Nothing.
Mister average in Chicago?? As a white Sox fan myself I have nothing but respect for how Gordon has carried himself day in and day out. Guys defense was always above average and he had a decent bat.
Stop feeding the troll. Perspectives based in lunacy aren’t worth your time or effort…
Guys, he played left field, big deal. I gave him credit for the couple years he hit around 300 and had some XBH. He is nothing more than Mister Average. And now he is a no stick left fielder with no team.
Bro…. he played 11 years in the big leagues. Maybe he never lived up to whatever the hype the media garnered about him but anytime you play 11 years in the show and perform well.. that is anything but overrated.
Brother man…. he didn’t live up to the hype, he didn’t live up to the contract. That’s the definition of overrated. And he didn’t perform well for eleven seasons Bro…..
His 2006 Rookie card was only worth a lot because it was a misprint, not because of who he was.
That said, they still routinely go for $1500 or so.
Why so expensive?
Misprint.
Something about how a player has to have at least one day of MLB service time, or appear in at least one game before they are allowed to be released on a baseball card.
Topps, i believe, jumped the gun and released his card before it happened.
You can find the whole card for around $1500-$2000 sometimes or you can find the card with his entire picture cut out of it for a few hundred bucks.
Joba’s dad gave me a rookie card of his when I was a student at Lincoln Northeast (Joba’s HS). I thought I was given 1,000 bucks at the time.
Yeah, it’s not worth much now, but it’s still cool to have known him.
Another not so shocking development.
His contract was a complete bust. Had some good years earlier. Not worth it unless it’s a 2-3 million dollar deal.
The guy won 2 and will likely win 3 straight gold gloves. Not a “complete” bust. You really need to re-define what your idea of “Complete” is…
Well, made 4m. Projected for 2020 at .241 with 13 homers.
Enough said.
Watch Atl waive markakis and sign Gordon lol
living proof Gold Gloves dont go to players simply because they hit well, as the adage goes.
Insert ‘always’ between your “dont” and “go” and i’ll agree.
Padres will take him
For sure, pair him back up with Hosmer and let them be the leaders of this Padre club, he can play LF and give SD the left handed bat they have been looking for. Shouldn’t cost too much, just need to outbid whatever kind of deal KC would be looking to bring him back on.
Then sign Moustakas, move Machado to SS and Tatis to 2B.
Trade for Danny Duffy
Perhaps you missed the part where it says that Gordon will only play again if it’s for the Royals.
Then again, a huge wad of cash can be a great motivator but I doubt the Padres would offer much.
If he plays in 2020 he said he’ll be playing for the Royals or if he doesn’t play, he’ll be retiring. He’s not going to move his family to another city for one season and pull his kids out of school. He lives in Kansas City full-time.
Someone will pay him something to play again, if he wants to play. Sure he’s not amazing, but he’s solid enough
One of the goto examples of how big, long-term contracts almost never work for teams or fans.
At what point do these guys NOT become
a bust? A disappointment? The guy won multiple gold gloves. He won a championship. I believe he was an all-star, maybe. The guy was a good MLB baseball player. Period. More than most will ever be able to say. .
Just because he’s more interesting than some guy sitting next to you on the bus doesn’t mean that his contract was commensurate with his production over the course of the contract.
I hope the Giants offer Alex Gordon, but with the offer that he’s stuck at third…
He hasn’t played third base in nine years
He was definitely over paid but I don’t think he’s worthless. I think he can find a $3-6M deal on a middling team. Oddly enough I don’t think any teams way out of contention or any teams almost guaranteed to make the playoffs would take him on any sort of deal because of the limited roster space, but a team that doesn’t know what it is? Has a few expensive producers and a bunch of middling players, teams that might hit a hot streak and squeak into the playoffs or crumble and wind up below .500 at the finish line? I think those teams are in on Alex Gordon. Oddly enough, this describes the Royals perfectly.
I think he re-signs for 1 year/$10M or so with the Royals. They still save $9M and they get back their franchise player on a veteran deal. He’s never played for any other team, he’s not really in a position to expect GM’s lighting up his agent’s phone lines with offers, but I am guessing he’s not ready to retire either. Besides, his WAR was 1.2 which I believe translates to roughly $7.8M in cash value, so what’s $2.2M to a veteran who’s a career/franchise player for your club? So yeah, give him that veteran deal and then let him have one more year to go out ‘on his terms’ otherwise I am guessing this is it and Alex Gordon retires.
He said if he plays in 2020 it’ll be with the Royals. so, if he doesn’t play, he is retiring. Since he lives in Kansas City full-time & his children are in school, he’s not going to pull them out for one season somewhere else.
Same difference. Also not to denigrate the Royals’ front office decision making and budgetary allocation methods, but when they gave Alex Gordon $18M AAV it was no different from the Giants giving Brandon Belt $17MAAV over four years- overpays for hometown heroes who would maybe get $12M AAV on the open market as a FA. Clearly he’d paid like $6M for his bat and he’s paid $12M for his glove. I get that. I know he’s been worth 6-7+ WAR at times despite very consistent and average offensive output.
So Gordon is one of ‘those’ players. but he’s that player for Kansas. He’s like a Jorge Posada, a Dustin Pedroia, etc. except he was on a club bereft of consistent stars and he was overpaid for that position. He got really lucky.
That’s all to say, given his career average offensive output and him matching that this year and given his history of exemplary defensive capabilities, why didn’t they pick up that $23M option, given that he might still be worth $8-10M to them and given that they know he’ll retire if he doesn’t keep playing for them. I know guys have done it. Gil Meche walked away from $13M or something out of respect for the club and feeling like he was not living up to his contract and didn’t have it in him anymore.
Clearly the Royals do right by their players. So if they bought Gordon out, they probably feel like if he isn’t worth $19M he may be better off retiring. Otherwise I expect we hear about a very quick one-year deal getting worked out between them, much like Gardner and the Yankees or CC Sabathia and the Yankees last off season.
No way he gets 10million. Maybe 4 million.
So his slugging pct. was Down, still good BA and OBP. Had he hit .210 with 20 homers you’d call that a great season.
I appreciated Gordo. There are not too many players would go back to the minors and learn a new position. His humility and work ethic is the kind of player I love to root for. Thank you Gordo and wish you the best.
Yeah, I always loved him, five years ago I wished he was a Red Sox…. then can Mookie, JBJ and Benny….I love players like him, he’s a lunchpail type of player, shows up does his job and his home…Seems like a no drama type
Totally agree. Great work ethic, no drama, and he can still play the outfield.
Since he’s already getting $4M from KC this year (and that counts against their cap), I could see KC offering him a 1 year, $4M contract to stay. For those remedial math students, that would be $8M for the season for Gordon, which might be an overpay but he is so valuable in the clubhouse, outfield and community that it would be worth it for KC to allow him to finish his career on decent terms.
I agree Dorothy. Gordo is the type of guy that can lead a clubhouse by example. These young kids need to know what work ethic looks like. I would rather pay Gordo than some free agent bust that the team has signed the last few years.
Totally agree
I will also add that Gordo didn’t use PED’s when so many in baseball did use them. I respected Gordo building his body the old fashion way. Did anyone see the ball he crushed to Center Field to send one of the playoff games into extra innings. Clutch!