Royals outfielder Alex Gordon has suffered a broken scaphoid bone in his right hand, Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star was among those to report on Twitter. Gordon is expected to miss between three and four weeks as a result of the injury, which was suffered in a collision yesterday with third baseman Mike Moustakas.
Gordon, 32, was off to a rough start since returning to Kansas City as a free agent over the winter. He owns a .211/.319/.331 slash that falls well shy of the above-average offensive numbers he typically produces. Gordon has also rated as merely an average defender in left thus far in 2016. While that’s a short sample to draw any major conclusions from, he’s typically posted top-of-the-league glove metrics.
That’s not to say that the loss won’t hurt, of course. K.C.’s top two options in the corners are now Jarrod Dyson and Paulo Orlando, who look much more useful when joined together in a platoon. Whit Merrifield and the just-recalled Cheslor Cuthbert represent the only two other non-catching position player reserves on the current roster, and Cuthbert has never played the outfield as a professional. And it doesn’t help that Moustakas is day to day himself after suffering a knee contusion.
It seems that Gordon will be expected back well in advance of the trade deadline, at least so far as he progresses as hoped, so in that regard the loss may not have much of an impact on the team’s summer trade plans. On the other hand, there had already been some chatter that the Royals might be looking at corner outfield options, and any uncertainty surrounding Gordon would certainly enhance the need. That’s assuming, of course, that Kansas City can at least keep pace in the AL Central with Gordon out.
All that being said, Kansas City also has some internal options who are worthy of consideration if another outfielder is deemed necessary. Travis Snider has plenty of MLB time and is reaching base at a healthy rate down in Triple-A. Reymond Fuentes has seen the bigs as well, including earlier this year. Otherwise, the team could turn to prospects Jorge Bonifacio or Brett Eibner, both of whom are hitting well at Omaha. Eibner, in particular, has put up impressive numbers and may be due for a shot at the majors at 27 years of age.
Trade for Puig.
Really?
1-Are the Dodgers ready to wave the white flag this season?
2-Do the Royals actually have anything in their system that might appeal to an organization that is already considered among the strongest in all of baseball?
3-Are the Royals the type of organization that has a history of acquiring players with a reputation such as Puig’s?
I’d venture to say that the answer would be a resounding no to the first question and a likely negative to the next two.
John Jay could be an inexpensive trade target. He’s decent and can play all 3 OF spots.
I think a run at Markakis would be a nice fit. Maybe A couple low level prospects get it done.
Maybe only one low level.
Eibner is due. Time to see what he has.
Same with Starling. Resign Rios. Also have Jose A. Martinez.
Definitely think this may open the door wider for a Nick Markakis deal.
Nope, if he had an expiring contract he would be movable but he’s signed 2 more yrs after this.
Yes he is signed but the contract is not rediculously high and depending on how much salary the Braves would be willing to eat I could see it working out.
Won’t expect much back at all.
They would have to eat all of the 2018 money, teams hardly ever do that, Josh Hamilton being the only recent example.
It’s not that expensive to a team like the Braves, but to a team that is known to have a relatively low budget like the Royals it is. To boot, they have to worry about resigning core guys like Moustakas, Hosmer, etc., trading for Markakis will hurt those chances unless Atlanta eats all of his contract. They’re better off trading for a low salary guy/checking the free agent market (Alex Rios perhaps?) since it will also save them a prospect.
God, if they eat any more money they’ll be paying more to guys not on the roster than guys on it
You obviously don’t know to much about the Braves horrible TV contract or the fact that they are owned by Liberty Mutual and money does not go back to the team. We have the worst tv contract in baseball and that is where teams get a majority of their revenue. Do it’s more like a team like KC who has a history of not spending their money.
There is a ton of options available to the Royals and I think a Markakis deal could be just as likely as any other. If the Braves are willing to eat money for draft picks and bonus allotment than I am sure they would eat something to gain a certain prospect. More they eat the better the prospect.