If Alex Gordon is going to continue his career beyond this season, it will be as a member of the Kansas City Royals.
Heading into 2019, it was likely that Alex Gordon was entering his final season. The former All Star outfielder was a shadow of himself at the plate, posting a meager .225/.310/.355 batting line in the three seasons after signing his four year, $72 million deal with the Kansas City Royals. At 35 years old coming into 2019, the end appeared to be in sight.
However, this season, Gordon has returned to form. Heading into Saturday, he had posted a surprising .290/.380/.529 batting line in 184 plate appearances, hitting eight homers and 13 doubles. Understandably, Gordon is considering playing again in 2020, but only if Kansas City wants him back.
Alex Gordon tells https://t.co/6TSm0LErFq he now is leaning toward playing beyond this season. And it's either here or nowhere: “I don’t want to play anywhere else. Yeah, I want to retire as a Royal." The story: https://t.co/JmMxRbBsJO via @MLB
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) May 17, 2019
Frankly, this is the way it should be. In an era where players drift from team to team in search of the biggest contract, loyalty to an organization just is not there any longer. It is harder to identify those great players with just one franchise.
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Of course, that loyalty is a two way street. Teams are looking for younger, and far cheaper, options everywhere they can to maximize their bottom line. Free agency has moved at a glacial pace over the past two offseasons, with several teams opting to forgo the process almost altogether.
For the Royals part, there does seem to be interest in retaining Gordon. Ned Yost said that he has discussed Jorge Soler as a future left fielder, but that day would be two or three years from now. The position seems as though it is being held for Gordon, should he want to come back for the coming season.
Even though there appears to be mutual interest in keeping Gordon in Kansas City, it will not involve the Royals picking up his $23 million option for next year. However, even with that being the case, there is every possibility that the Royals and Gordon could agree on a one year deal, potentially with an option for 2021.
Gordon’s value goes beyond his bat. While he has experienced a renaissance at the plate this year, his defense in left remains the best in the game. He is a veteran presence on what will be a very young team in another year or two, a link to the most recent glory years. He is the perfect mentor, a player who has personally experienced the highs and lows that the game has to offer.
Alex Gordon may not be ready to call it a career when 2019 is over. However, that is only if the Kansas City Royals want him back next year.