TODAY: Gordon has agreed to waive his 10-and-5 no-trade rights beginning on June 16, as per The Associated Press. Talking with MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan and other reporters about the signing, GM Dayton Moore referred to the unusual provision as a way to “eliminate the red tape” and “take out the dynamics of going through the union” if a trade offer from a contender emerged. Moore also implied that Gordon would still have an unofficial veto about any trade proposal, saying “anything we do with Alex, we would have a conversation with him first. It’s really important to know that. It’s always about the players….If you decide together at some point [that a trade] could benefit Alex, you want to have very easy conversations about things.”
JANUARY 22, 5:33pm: Gordon’s contract pays him an extra $500K upon reaching 250 plate appearances, tweets USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. There’s also a $500K assignment bonus in the event that he’s traded, although as a player with 10-and-5 rights, Gordon can veto any proposed swap.
9:15am: The Royals have struck a new deal with outfielder Alex Gordon, as first reported by MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan (via Twitter). The pact is said to guarantee him $4MM for the 2020 season. Righty Heath Fillmyer was designated for assignment to create roster space.
Gordon’s second free agent return to Kansas City comes with less drama and a much lower cost than did his prior one. The veteran previously inked a four-year deal in January of 2016, all but ensuring he’d never wear another uniform.
Entering the 2019-20 offseason, the only question was whether Gordon would decide to continue his career for an additional season. He and the K.C. organization decided upon at least one more.
That aforementioned contract hasn’t worked out at all from an on-field perspective. Gordon, who’ll soon turn 36, has yet to turn in even an average offensive campaign under the new deal. He carries an ugly .237/.320/.366 batting line over the four-season span.
On the other hand, Gordon has continued to turn in sterling defensive work in the outfield. And his bat did trend up in 2019, as he slashed .266/.345/.396 (96 wRC+) with 13 home runs.
While there was never any chance the Royals would pick up a high-priced option over Gordon, it’s not hard to understand the rationale for this move. The money, roster spot, and playing time surely could’ve been appropriated elsewhere, but every team needs some veterans around and the Royals are as familiar and comfortable with Gordon as any club could be with any player.
As for Fillmyer, the 25-year-old has thrown 104 2/3 MLB frames over the past two seasons, working to a 5.07 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9. He turned in solid results while working his way through the farm, but has also struggled at the Triple-A level, where he owns a 5.48 ERA over 116 2/3 innings in 2018-19.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
IMO, Good deal on both side. I can’t imagine him wearing a different uniform.
No brainer to bring back one of their best players in recent memory at a low number like this. Keeps around a player the fans care about and he’s seen his up and downs both in terms of his performance and in terms of the Royals’ success while he’s been there so he has some valuable experience he can pass on to whatever young kids they have in the clubhouse next season. Nice move KC.
one of the greatest Royals ever, nice to see him coming back and helping this young team.
Glad he gets to stay with the Royals. Congrats on keeping your guy KC.
4 million for a PR stunt. Good move. But they should just bring back Frank White and George Brett.
Don’t be stupid
He can’t help it
Always the human clown shoe Vin.
Brett as player/manager
I’m not shocked that someone who’s 27478282 years old doesn’t get it anymore.
That right fielder you were hoping the Royals would sign has been dead 107 years.
welcome back “the next George Brett” haaaaaa
Actually it was Johnny Damon who was touted in KC as being the next Brett. Seeing as though that failed I honestly don’t recall the same being said about Alex.
Do a search. You’ll find it.
So essentially $8 million instead of $23 million due to the buyout.
$8M is a lot better than $23M!
Agree, I’d rather have the 8.
and it’s not $8 million, he was getting the $4 million for the buyout no matter what so it’s $4 million just as the article states.
No, he wouldn’t have gotten the buyout if they paid him 23 million.
Well no he’s still right except he should have said it’s 8 million instead of 4 million or 23 million I suppose since there was 3 options. The buy out is paid this year and goes towards this years tax so he is getting 8 million this year it’s just spread across 2 contracts for 2 different reasons, oddly they’re paying him 4 million on 1 contract not to play for them and 4 million on another contract to play for them.
The buyout is on his old contract. It was paid out in 2019. He is only getting $4 million.
No buy outs are paid the year the option is for so if his option is for 2020 it’s payout occurs in 2020, I’m just not sure how it’s paid out, meaning spread out or 1 time. It’s paid out this way due to the luxury tax.
So Gordon gets 8mln to play defense and the Yankee-haters complained about Brett Gardner’s deal. Both are 36 and Gardner has better stats all around.
Poor poor Yankees fans. How will they ever deal with the hatred?
Does Gordon pound the dugout ceiling like an 8 year old amped up on Halloween candy?
Misleading info. The second year of his 4 year deal was horrible. The third year was better and the final year exceeds his career averages.
More than a good-will move for the fans, his defense alone earns this paycheck. Any hitting is gravy. Win-win.
His work ethic made him the defender he is. Day in day out this contract will yield dividends as they school youngsters all over the field.
Then make him a coach
As an Indians fan, I’m glad to see this. I always enjoy watching him play against us.
Plus, I love to see players who remain with just one organization in their career.
Someone should claim heath fillmyer!
Is that a real billboard??
Face of a franchise on a good deal.
I really love it when players stay with one team their whole career. It’s good for the fans in the end. Gordon, Molina and I’m hoping Rizzo for our Cubs
Rizzo was originally a Padre
Before that he was a Jerky Boy
Before that he was a Pink Lady.
No, he was originally a Red Sox
I think he made his major league debut in San Diego though.
I really love it when players stay with one team their whole career. It’s good for the fans in the end. Gordon, Molina and I’m hoping Rizzo for our Cubs
So you’re going to ignore Rizzo’s rookie year in San Diego in 2011? Or the fact he was Red Sox property prior to that? 49 games and 153 PAs with SD so he lost rookie status before the Cubs ever acquired him.
Erik is just another one of those cub fans who’s drunk at the games, doesn’t know much about his own team.
Good move. Class guy
Meh. He’s replacement level.
And since the Royals are such a World Series threat this year, it’s a TERRIBLE idea to bring back a franchise icon on a very low salary who matched or exceeded many of his career stats last season.
It’s not a terrible move – it’s just very “meh”. KCs not competing so they can afford to have a fan favorite back on a cheap deal even if he’s mediocre. Still it’s not really a good or bad deal, it’s somewhere in the middle
Have you ever heard of sarcasm?
Meh says the guy who has never really rooted for a team, or at least one that can’t buy its way to competitiveness every year.
14 years with the same club, nice.
I guess they didn’t want him to finish his career with 666 walks.
Judging by the comments you would think Gordon was a future hall of famer lol.
Which ones? The one making fun of him for never achieving the fame and prestige of a hall of famer? Or the one asking if the obvious CGI billboard is real?
trade Salvador
To Jeff Todd, according to a Royals website, Gordon has waived his 10/5 rights in this new 1 year deal.
That’s surprising
I remember the Royals saying they AG more than Trout back in 2014.
I remember the AG led Royals sweeping the Angels in 2014
I was at games 1 and 2. that falling down Aoki catch against Howie. ugh.
Ventura simply dominated in game 2.
I remember the Royals saying they liked AG more than Trout back in 2014.
Corporal Hindsight does it again!
And only one has a World Series ring.
Pretty cool. I’m likely catching a Royals game in Spring Training and generally catch each team once during the regular season.
Always nice to see both franchise icons and all out defense. Gordon is both.
Go Cubs Go
It’s chicken feed by today’s money standards and he’s not holding anyone back. KC has no outfielders beating on the door. And yes…I realize we have Bubba Starling and Brett Phillips but I stand by my comment.
Gordon has never been anything but total class and I’m happy to be able to watch him one more year.
Essentially a one year $8+mil deal with the 4mil on the buyout of 2020 and 4 more mil..
Yes and no. He would have gotten the 4M buyout money even if he retired after the option was exercised by the Royals…therefore it actually cost KC 4M to sign him again.
Dom Smith, JD Davis and a top 10 organizational pitching prospect would probably get it done for the Mets, and their roster breakdown would look a lot more defined.
McNeill 3B
Marte CF
Alonso 1B
Conforto LF
Cespedes RF
Cano 2B
Catcher
Rosario SS
I like what the Mets have done with their rotation as well. Remlinger and Wacha could turn out to be major bargains with incentive to pitch well to score a large contact next year.
I think you’re posting in the wrong article…..
That’s a massive overpay for Marte, if that’s who you’re talking about.
classy move between Kansas City & Alex… gives Alex a chance to go to a contender & in return Kansas City may get a decent prospect
But it doesn’t necessary mean that he would go it’s just that the contract allows that possibility. Alex wants to win but I think he would rather try to help the Royals win some games then be a bench player for a contender (which is what he would be likely)
yes, we all realize that… as i said, it gives Alex a chance
I would rather have Alex Gordon than another Chris Owings mistake
Who wants to guess what team Gordon will end the year with? I have Oakland.
.220 with 8 HRs. But he will make for a great bobblehead.