Royals: Should Alex Gordon return for one more season?

One of the best players in Kansas City Royals history has yet to decide whether he’ll return next season or retire. Should Alex Gordon give it one last go?

The Kansas City Royals aren’t going to be contenders in 2020. They might as well try their best to make it a season to remember.

Veteran left fielder and one of the best players in franchise history, Alex Gordon, has yet to decide whether he’ll retire or return to the team for one last season. After being “60/40” on coming back earlier this season, the 35-year-old talked about having an “itch” to return after new manager Mike Matheny‘s promotion was announced. He maintains that he has yet to decide either way, though.

Gordon had his best season in quite some time last year. In 150 games, he hit for a .266/.345/.396 line. His OPS and OPS+ were both the highest marks he’d seen since 2015, when he made his most recent All-Star appearance. To top it all off, Gordon won his seventh (yes, seventh) Gold Glove award earlier this month. Per Baseball-Reference, Gordon’s 13th season was worth 1.2 WAR.

After having his $23 million mutual option declined by the Royals earlier this offseason, a potential Gordon return will have to come at a much cheaper price. It’s been reported that in new owner John Sherman’s first year on the job, payroll will remain relatively low. Because of this, a spot in left field will certainly have Gordon’s name on it if he wants it.

Everyone knows general manager Dayton Moore wants Alex Gordon to return. He’s one of the best players to ever don a Kansas City Royals uniform. His daredevil style and rocket arm have made him a legendary defender. He’s no longer a huge threat at the plate but after hitting at a near league-average level in 2019, there’s hope for a solid 2020.

Would you like to see Alex Gordon return for one more season? In a year that’s bound to see some additional growing pains, having the veteran leadership of “Gordo” around could pay dividends. On top of that, the organization could send him out the right way. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!