Royals left fielder Alex Gordon has considered retiring after 2019, the last guaranteed season of his four-year, $72MM contract, Rustin Dodd of The Athletic reports (subscription required). That decision’s on hold for the time being, but now the question is whether the career-long Royal, 35, will finish the season with the club. Gordon has gotten off to such a superb start this year that Dodd notes he could emerge as a viable in-season trade candidate for the rebuilding Royals. But Gordon has 10-and-5 rights, meaning he’d be able to kibosh any trade, and his lofty salary ($20MM this year and a $4MM buyout in 2020) further complicates matters. While Gordon was an indispensable piece for the Royals in his younger days, his production has fallen flat since he received his contract. However, as Dodd explains, Gordon may have revived his career thanks to a mechanical adjustment he made last August. Gordon ended 2018 on a positive note and has come back with a vengeance this year, evidenced by his .356/.456/.667 line with three home runs and more walks (seven) than strikeouts (five) in 57 plate appearances. He has already totaled 1.0 fWAR, compared to a paltry 0.5 in 1,057 PA from 2016-17.
Now the latest on a few other AL notables…
- Big-ticket offseason pickup James Paxton has struggled so far as a member of the Yankees, which led the left-hander to talk with his sports psychologist, Sweeny Murti of WFAN tweets. The former Mariner revealed he had been putting too much pressure on himself to succeed with his new team, though he now believes he’s on the right track. Paxton also found out from Yankees special advisor Carlos Beltran that he was tipping his curveball grip in his most recent start, an ugly showing in Houston on April 10. He’ll attempt to incorporate Beltran’s advice against Boston on Tuesday.
- Speaking Sunday with reporters, including Bryan Hoch of MLB.com and Erik Boland of Newsday, Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks said he feels “great” and could take on-field batting practice in the next week. There’s still no timetable for his return, though. Hicks has been dealing with a lower back issue since early March, shortly after the Yankees inked him to a seven-year, $70MM contract extension. Although his absence has deprived the Yankees of one of the game’s preeminent center fielders, battle-tested reserve Brett Gardner has delivered passable offensive production (90 wRC+ in 61 plate appearances) in his stead.
- Red Sox utilityman Brock Holt is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list Monday, but he won’t return until at least “late in the week,” Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com writes. Holt, who has been on the IL since April 6 with a scratched right cornea, will see a doctor Tuesday and could then embark on a rehab assignment. Prior to his injury, the 30-year-old Holt got off to a slow start, as have fellow Red Sox second basemen Dustin Pedroia and Eduardo Nunez.
The Royals would never trade Gordon, nor should they.
Why not? Like the article says it’s his last guaranteed season. If he keeps his production up and they’re out of the race of course you trade him if he waived his rights. The prospects they’d receive at least would have a chance to help in the future. And if he wanted to stay, just bring him back again in FA.
Because he has three kids & wouldn’t want to be a bench guy for a contender. Husker football in October is what I envision him wanting to do on saturdays.
You think he’d rather watch Nebraska football than play in the playoffs???
You have to understand Nebraska football has been in the gutter for years. Scott Frost is reviving it & I don’t think Alex would want to miss it for a possible chance at the baseball playoffs. In 2015, after they won the series, he was at a Nebraska football game that Nebraska staged a comeback in & beat an undefeated Michigan state team.
Plus, baseball is a funny game. Look at who is leading the AL east right now.
lol really? i’d love a ring on the way out – thanks the memories
The Royals would absolutely trade Gordon. He’s a good dude, local guy, big part of Royals history, etc. but part of this is business. If they got what they thought was a good return, and Alex agreed, it wouldn’t surprise me at all. Like we’ve seen with Moose, there are also ways to find it back to the organization the next year.
Having said that, as much as I like Alex – he won’t continue at this pace. And given his contract, it’s likely the Royals won’t get enough back in return for this to be a topic in July.
I try not to be negative to other posters, but watching Nebraska football over playing in the MLB playoffs on your way out might be the single dumbest thing I’ve ever read on this site in 9 years. You can’t be serious, and if you are, I feel pity for your mother. No… you have to be a troll.
Gordon has been really bad at the plate for three straight years now; No team is going to be fooled by this two-week hot streak. His defense is still pretty good, but he just can’t really hit anymore. I doubt a contending team, at the trade deadline, is too interested in a defensive replacement in left field, nor would they give up anything of value for him.
This makes complete sense. The $100 million dollar player dreaming of shivering in the bleachers watching amateur football rather than…
I have lived in Nebraska almost my whole life and I think husker football sucks. It seems to be all every other person lives for in this state. Major League Baseball is way better!
Why not?
Royals are in rebuild mode
Yeah, I could see a Red Bird interest. All of their outfielders are right handed except Fowler. He might not play every day, especially against lefties, but his defense will still play. However, someone would have to go. Maybe O’Neill could be optioned, but he’s been contributing. And Martinez is too valuable off the bench. That leaves one more option, releasing Dexter, and eating his contract. The Cards have no one in AAA who could be called up. If by June, Fowler sucks, and Gordon keeps hitting, he might OK a move to nearby St.Louis.
He deserves to retire a Royal. I doubt he’d waive his rights to be traded to likely be a bench guy for a possible contender.
Plus, KC is only a few hours from Lincoln Nebraska & I think October will be husker football for him
What is life like in Lincoln Nebraska?
Well , one day it could be really cold & the next day 75 degrees, lol..
Memorial stadium becomes the third largest city during the fall & we just sold out our spring scrimmage that was held yesterday…,yes, a practice game was attended by 86K.
I was born in Lincoln. Traffic is ridiculous city does a lousy job taking care of streets. Population has probably doubled in the last 20 years. Housing market is absolutely crazy. No thanks. I moved away from the big city to a small town years ago. Lincoln is no fun and neither is husker football games. Way to many people in one area.
Gothcya. I’m from NY, so I was just wondering what life was like out that way in the true MidWest.
Glad to see Gordo bouncing back after his brutal stretch. Always liked the guy, hated seeing and hearing fans boo him after his career here.
He has fun hitting third. I think he’s trying to pick up the slack on offense that is missing due to salvy being out, I know it’s only April, but it’s fun seeing the number 300 by his 2019 batting average. And three home runs already, especially this early on is so so sweet!
The higher the return for Gordo, the more the R’s will have to pay off the remaining contract which with the lower payroll, they can easily do & hopefully get a nice haul of relievers in return which they need muh badly!
Um, we have possible relievers in Omaha. We’ll be fine. And I’m guessing he will retire. With three kids he misses during the long grueling season..,,why miss the rest of their years growing up? His little girl is almost two. Bo Jackson was at the royals fanfest in January & he told how he decided to not return to baseball after the 1994 strike. He enjoyed watching his kids grow up & going to PTA meetings,
@royalfan – the mystery – I am intrigued to learn what other activities happened to Bo other then PTA meetings, but you just left me hanging.
If you’re actually being serious….he promised his dying mother he’d go back to finish his college degree. He actually got quite emotional as he was telling this story……this was before he left baseball for good, though.
Bo Jackson also broke his hips and couldn’t play professional sports anymore.
You all arguing the royals should trade Gordon are showing off how stupid you all are! He has 10-5 rights it doesn’t matter what they can get back!! It’s up to him!! Unless he truly wants a ring more then anything he’ll stay put in KC, y’all need to chill out n realize the actual situation not what you think might happen, gotta love internet GM’s.
Thank you! Plus, he has a ring already & his veteran presence is so important to the young guys in the clubhouse like O’Hearn & dozier with Salvy out for the year.
So no player that has 10-5 rights has ever agreed to a trade before? What you are saying is the Royals shouldn’t even bother looking for possible trading partners because Gordon couldn’t possibly ever do what is best for the team and allow a trade that could shorten the Royals rebuild? You are also saying he would prefer to sit in the stands and watch college football instead of possibly going to another World Series?He sounds like the most selfish player to ever play the game!! The arguments you have made are quite possibly the dumbest I have ever heard…
I didn’t say sit in the stands, I said watch Nebraska football. I’m sure he gets espn and big ten network.
I still say it is stupid to talk about trading him 15 games into the season. If Ian Kennedy was tradable, he’d be the one to go, but his contract is too much.
How on earth would trading a bad hitter in his final contract year at age 34 “shorten the Royals rebuild”? Gordon isn’t fetching anything of real value if he were traded.
Not so sure about the return. While he probably won’t garner a top 3 prospect, I could see a contender offering someone of value. I still think the Cards are possible.
Also people who say this don’t know anything about Dayton Moore, whether they *should* trade him is debatable but irrelevant. Dayton won’t trade him and Alex wouldn’t sign off even if he did and Dayton knows that.
It’s still an early season Paxton is too good of a pitcher
Paxton has always had the potential, but just can’t stay healthy. He just might be another pitcher in a long line that can’t handle New York.
So is it that he can’t stay healthy or he can’t handle New York? Do you read what you write or is it just free flowing garbage?
Evidently it can be both..Albert Schmeinstein
Could it possibly be both. Is this your eureka moment?
It’s both. And this is exactly what you should have expected from a pitcher like that
plenty of evidence so early in the season. its time for you to change your lipstick color cereal.
You a funny little rascal.
Sonny Gray 2.0
Aka Sonny Gray?
Paxton is going to be a disaster in NY. Everyone should have seen this coming. I know I did.
I hope Paxton is a roaster tues!
Another brilliant move by ninja Cash.
His rookie card was the one card I never got from that set since it was so damn expensive. That’s what I remember most about Alex Gordon.
He doesn’t need to chase another ring because he already has one.
Again, I can’t help but wonder where the cashman apologist brigade has gone. I mean where is South beach dummy with his affirmations of how great the signings of Happ, Pax, Tulo, Gardy etc are? What about Bengamin???
This is how you man up. I was wrong about DJ. Thought he was excess and too expensive. Turns out DJ is the yanks MVP thus far.
Nah- we didn’t need corbin or harper
Don’t forget their rationale about there was nothing better at those bargain prices..Gardner, CC, Happ. Cashman should be put out to pastor. There’s the Begamin guy’s weird obsession with Greg Bird too.
We are on the same page! Thanks
Would love to be proven wrong and am hopeful pax can get it together but…..
We needed pitching and one more lefty bat and instead got nada.
Cashman is busy at the spa getting a Brazilian wax with Caitlyn (Bruce) Jenner.
Red Sox front office – Please wake up or fire your analytics group. I’m tired of watching the mistakes from last year carry over to this year with negative results. At the end of July we were sailing along with late inning rallies and winning games that looked unattainable. Then some EINSTEIN decided to move JD to the 4 hole for more RBIs. For the remainder of the season his RBI opportunities dropped significantly (nearly 1 per game). He went from being way ahead of others in RBIs to barely winning the RBI title over Khris Davis. We lost most of our games with him in the 4 hole and his batting average dropped. So we lost more games, JD lost out on the MVP race, we scored less runs and JD’s RBIs dropped significantly because the opportunities went to the 3 hitter. (guys batting 50 points or more below JD)
This year we are off to a horrible start and we are using the same line-up. Compound that with changing Mookie and Benny so they are no longer .400 OBP guys, we are killing our chances with simple mistakes. I believe Mookie and Benny will get on track but if we keep taking RBI opportunities away from JD to give them to Pearce and Moreland, we are going to continue to lose. JD has 9 RBIs in 60 at bats. I don’t have the stats on it but I know from watching all our games that he bats first in the second inning allot. He also gets the majority of his hits late in the game and often he doesn’t get to bat with runners on because the last out of the late inning rally is made by the 3 hitter. This makes no sense, especially with an analytics department that should be top notch.
Take two fast runners who have OBPs of .400 or more and put a clutch RBI guy behind them and you have a team that did extremely well through July last year. Change up what’s working and don’t monitor the impact and you end up winning it all without realizing how badly your change impacted results.
Want evidence of what I’m saying? Just look at who won the MVP of the World Series, the Red Sox 3 hitter. Why? Because there were more RBI opportunities for the 3 hole, just like the rest of the season. Had JD been the 3 hitter, he wins the MVP. Keep JD in the 3 hole the entire year and he wins the MVP with nearly 150 RBIs. The 3 hole in the Red Sox line-up will produce more RBI opportunities than most if not all other teams in baseball because two .400 OBP guys will provide base runners far more often than most 1/2 combinations in baseball. Add their speed and JD simply needs to hit a ball in the outfieild and a runner will score from 2nd most of the time. Hit a double and Mookie, Benny or even JBJ batting 9th will score from first base. That’s why your best hitter should be in the 3 hole. JD has been our best hitter since he arrived. He has the best combination of Average and Power of anyone, even Mookie. Put JD back in the 3 hole and lets start winning again!!
Wake up analytics and do you job!!
Welcome to James Paxton. This is what you get. Moments of brilliance, odd Injuries and lack of a killer instinct. He will pitch out of his mind for 5-6 starts and then utterly implode for 3-4 before becoming injured.