After long speculation of where he would play next season, Alex Gordon has re-signed with the Kansas City Royals.
The deal is reported to be worth $72 million over four years.
Alex Gordon Re-Signs with Royals
Gordon, who completed his ninth season in the majors, has been the backbone of the Royals organization since he was drafted by Kansas City second overall in the 2005 draft out of Nebraska. This contract comes after his four-year, $37.5 million contract he signed in 2012 expired after he led the Royals to consecutive AL pennants and their first World Championship since 1985.
Along with his clutch left-handed bat and perennial Gold Glove fielding, Gordon is one of the premier leaders in all of baseball and one of its most respected figures.
Gordon’s 2015 season wasn’t his best as far as stats are concerned, hitting .275 with 18 doubles, 13 home runs and 48 RBI. However, Gordon did miss over 50 games due to a groin injury sustained in July. His best play of the season came in October. Gordon hit the game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the World Series, propelling Kansas City to an extra-inning victory, and kick starting a championship that Kansas City had not experienced in 30 years.
His contract may seem steep to a player who hasn’t hit over 20 home runs or 80 RBI in a season since he signed his last free agent deal in 2012, but Gordon is an all-world defender and one of the more respected figures in all of baseball. Kansas City should feel great about keeping their guy in the outfield for at least four more years, only having to worry about smoothing rough edges on the roster and keeping leadership towards a run at another championship in 2016.
Main Photo: NEW YORK, NY – Alex Gordon acknowledges the crowd during Game Four of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field on October 31, 2015 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Via Getty Images/Sport.
