He’s back! Alex Gordon returns to KC Royals on one-year deal

Longtime KC Royals left fielder and fan-favorite Alex Gordon officially returns to the team on a one-year contract worth $4 million.

It’s official! He’s back! Per MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan, Alex Gordon is officially returning to the KC Royals for a 14th season:

Per source, Alex Gordon and the Royals have agreed on a one-year deal for $4 million for 2020. Gordo is back.
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) January 22, 2020

This comes after reports several days ago that both Gordon and the team were working towards a deal. Gordon ended the 2019 season without deciding whether or not he’d give things one last ride, but he’s finally made up his mind. General manager Dayton Moore has long expressed that the fan-favorite was more than welcome to come back, and Gordon took him up on that offer.

After signing a lucrative four-year contract following the 2015 campaign, Gordon struggled immensely throughout the course of the deal. Battling injuries and poor numbers at the plate, it seemed we’d never see the “Gordo” of old. He rebounded well for a 2019 season that saw him post a .266/.345/.396 line with 13 home runs and 76 RBIs. Putting up an OPS+ of 96, he hit near a league-average level on the year.

Gordon also won his seventh Gold Glove award last season, adding to his already impressive resume as one of the best defenders of the past ten years. He can still play good defense in left and if he’s hitting at an acceptable level, he remains a productive player into his mid-to-late thirties.

While the move makes a ton of sense from a fan and on-field/clubhouse leadership standpoint, it raises some questions. Putting Gordon on the field for another 100-plus games could create a logjam in the outfield, with younger players not having anywhere to play. Our Michael Huckins argues it’s not the type of move a rebuilding club should make.

Flanagan also reports that Gordon has waived his 10-and-5-clause:

Regarding Alex Gordon waiving his 10-and-5 no trade clause, Dayton Moore tells me, "Gordo wants to win more than anything else. And this is not a situation where he thinks this is his final year. But we're not even considering (the possibility of trading him) right now."
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) January 22, 2020

This makes things more interesting. The general consensus was that if Gordon returned, it’d be for one final hurrah. It looks like he believes he has more left to offer, which could throw a fork in the Royals’ future plans. Could things change part of the way through the season?

At any rate, Alex Gordon is back. One of the most beloved players in franchise history will be donning the prestigious Royals uniform for another year. What do you think about the transaction? Let us know in the comments?

Longtime KC Royals left fielder and fan-favorite Alex Gordon officially returns to the team on a one-year contract worth $4 million.

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