The Royals announced that they’ve placed left fielder Alex Gordon on the 10-day disabled list with a labral tear in his left hip. Recently claimed outfielder Abraham Almonte has been recalled from Triple-A Omaha to take his place. Kansas City didn’t provide an immediate timeline within its announcement, though manager Ned Yost suggests that the injury may not be as bad as it sounds (Twitter link via Rustin Dodd of The Athletic). Yost said that Gordon will be re-evaluated in five days and could return as soon as two weeks down the road in a best-case scenario.
Gordon, 34, inked a franchise record four-year, $72MM contract with the Royals in the 2015-16 offseason. At the time, the left fielder had made three consecutive All-Star teams and been one of the key factors in the Royals’ return to prominence in the American League Central. From 2011-15, Gordon slashed .281/.359/.450 (121 OPS+) and took home four Gold Glove Awards. Baseball-Reference pegged his efforts at 27.2 wins above replacement in that five-year peak, while Fangraphs credited him with 24 WAR.
However, Gordon’s production immediately went south in the first season of a four-year contract that has transformed from a cause for celebration among Royals fans to an albatross deal for the franchise. Since Opening Day 2016, Gordon has posted a woeful .213/.300/.343 slash in 1071 plate appearances, missing time along the way with a fractured right wrist (in May 2016). He’s still owed $20MM in 2018 and 2019, plus a $4MM buyout of a mutual option for the 2020 season.
Yikes.
Oh this is not good. He’s going to be out for quite a while.
Yikes!
Yost said that Gordon will be re-evaluated in five days and could return as soon as two weeks down the road in a best-case scenario. No way no how. He’ll be re-evaluated for surgery in 5 days if he actually has a Labral tear.
I think I agree with you. It seemed like an unnecessary move when they picked up A Almonte, now maybe it seems they knew Gordon was hurting. It won’t bother me if he misses an extended period of time, he’s been really lousy with the bat for over two years now.
So…..if this is a legit injury that keeps him off the field for a while, wouldn’t there be insurance to help the team cover a decent chunk of his contract?
Not trying to be a jerk, but at this point the $20 million looks like sunk cost. If KC can get some back….
Mikey Lowel and Alex rodriquez tore the hip.. Labrum? Was that it? Actually think Arod tore both sides and Lowel was pretty much finished after the surgery, he went from a GG fielder to barely able to move.
It’s a legit injury. As a veteran and well respected player on the team, I don’t think Dayton Moore would play games with his injury status and the DL. And for those of you that mentioned Melky and Seth Smith, probably isn’t going to happen. Abraham Almonte has been Recalled from Omaha. This could actually be a blessing for the team. As popular as he is with the fans and his teammates, he has been historically bad since 2016. Virtually anyone they put out there has got to be better than Alex. He has become a black hole in the lineup and automatic out
i’m not insinuating they would play games with his dl status.
Just wondering if an injury that is unfortunate for Gordon could actually be a little fortunate for the franchise.
Without a doubt this could help the team. Alex basically has been in a horrible slump since 2016. Royals fans feel for the guy because when he comes up you almost know he’s going to strike out. Whatever it is Alex Gordon had in years past is gone, and my guess is it’s never coming back.
HHJJ…it all depends on how the policy is written. He did have a labrum tear in his right hip in 2009 so chances are good the insurance company would exclude any coverage of right hip injury and it’s possible they excluded any hip. Ever since Albert Belle insurance companies have been skittish.
This is a pretty good article to shed some light
fangraphs.com/community/insurance-in-baseball-is-l…
Thanks for that info Cat Mando.
Sorry if my “legit” term threw people off. It’s a Cali thing using “legit” for serious.
No problem. Even though the article is a few years old it’s still pertinent. I stumbled across it a few weeks ago and saved it as a resource item.
I believe insurance only covers a contract for a player forced into retirement
Mets are saving on David Wright’s deal
Do we even know if the contract has insurance?
Reflect – “Do we even know if the contract has insurance?”
Nope but it would have been insane not to insure the largest contract in club history.
Welcome back Melky???
…or maybe Seth Smith.
Gordon had surgery for a labrum tear in his right hip and missed 3 months in 2009.
Isnt this the same injury that pretty much ended Lincecums run?
Man that sucks but most of the royals core got GG and asg nods because they were beloved as the small market darlings.
I knew his contract was a mistake. Nobody wanted him and the Royals still overpaid. I would have done 14 x 2 with 2 option years.
Agreed. Alex Gordon and Ian Kennedy were two signings that the Royals should have never done.
I had this injury. 9 months to return to sports and a year to come back to 90% hope it’s not as serious as mine
Put this guy in the dream outfield with Heyward and Carl Crawford. You like outfield defense, have at it.
Almonte will inspire Royals fans to do one of 2 things: pray for Gordon’s return, or gaze longingly at the waiver wire.
He’s a waste of money he hasn’t hit since he signed that contract