Kansas City Royals are not sending Alex Gordon to the minors

Yes, Alex Gordon has struggled over the past two years. No, the Kansas City Royals are not going to send one of their franchise icons to the minors.

On the surface, it is easy to see why Kansas City Royals fans would be desperate for the team to do something with Alex Gordon. The one time fan favorite has become a target for the fanbase, someone who the frustrations of the past two seasons have been unleashed upon. As Gordon has produced a combined .214/.302/.346 batting line with 26 homers and 15 steals in the past two years, that frustration is understandable.

Naturally, the fans are looking for something to be done with Gordon. Joakim Soria, who also went from fan favorite to one of the whipping boys of the fanbase, was sent to the White Sox in a salary dump. And then, when manager Ned Yost mentioned sending Gordon to the minors to get 10 to 12 at bats, it was considered as a sign that the former All Star was being sent to Omaha.

After the feeding frenzy of fans gleefully celebrating the end of the Gordon Era in left, Yost and the Royals made certain to clarify those remarks. Gordon is not being sent to the minors to start the regular season. Instead, he will play a few games at the minor league compound, getting those 10 to 12 at bats a day as the Royals look to get their left fielder going at the plate once again.

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It is easy to understand why the Royals would be desperate to get Gordon as many at bats as possible before the season begins. While Spring Training statistics typically mean nothing, Gordon has produced a horrific .087/.189/.109 batting line, with one extra base hit and 17 strikeouts in his 53 plate appearances. He is beyond lost at the plate, as his bat seems to be allergic to making hard contact.

Given the status of the Royals roster, they certainly need Gordon to rediscover his ability at the plate. There are a number of intriguing players, and the Royals may even be able to find their way into the periphery of contention if everything breaks right. Having Gordon produce at a relatively competent rate would go a long way towards helping the Royals play meaningful games at the end of the season.

Yes, Gordon provides far more than just his offensive numbers. Even though his hitting was anemic in 2017, he was still slightly above replacement level due to his prowess in the field. He led American League left fielders with 20 runs saved last season, winning his fifth Gold Glove award. Gordon still has plenty of value for Kansas City, even if his offense has disappeared.

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The idea of sending Alex Gordon to the minors is asinine. Thankfully, the Kansas City Royals and Ned Yost quickly disabused that notion.