KC Royals: Fans Should Not Be Upset With Alex Gordon

With the news that left fielder Alex Gordon declined his option for the 2016 season, some KC Royals fans might be upset with the long time Royal. Don’t be.

Alex Gordon has been with the Kansas City Royals organization since he was drafted in 2005. He was called up to the big leagues in 2007 and went on to disappoint for a few years before Dayton Moore had him go back to Omaha and practice being in the outfield. Obviously that move turned out really well for the former Nebraska Cornhusker.

Now, Gordon, who will turn 32 years old in February, is officially a free agent. Gordon turned down his option for next season and plans to test the free agent market.

Gordon deserves the chance to be able to talk to other teams. He deserves the opportunity to sign with whoever he wants. He should not feel like he has to stay in Kansas City because he knows the Royals organization and how this team works,  and it’s not by spending money for a long term deal on a player in their early 30s.

More from Kansas City Royals

• This Plus-Money Bobby Witt Jr. Prop Bet is on Fire (Hit in 15/21 Games)!
• The Royals Need to Extend Bobby Witt Jr. Immediately
• DraftKings + FanDuel Kansas Promos: INSTANT $150 Bonus Plus Two Chances to Win!
• 3 Royals Players Who Won’t Be on the Roster Next Year
• LAST CHANCE to Claim $250 GUARANTEED Bonus With FanDuel and DraftKings Kansas Promos!

Look, this is painful for me to say, okay? I love Alex Gordon. He’s my favorite Royal. He went to Nebraska. He’s a great guy, good player, hard worker, really cares about his teammates and the fans. I could go on and on about how much I love Gordo, but with that said, he deserves to get a long term contract if that’s what he desires.

Some, like Chris Cwik of Yahoo Sports, think that Gordon could demand a $100 million contract over multiple seasons. That’s a contract that the KC Royals simply can’t afford. If Gordon decides he wants to go to a team for $100 million, then the Royals have to let him go and can’t look back.

The biggest problem is that if Gordon departs, then that leaves a gap in left field and in right field, as Alex Rios‘ option was declined as well. As good as Lorenzo Cain is in the outfield, he can’t cover left field, right field, and his regular position of center field. The Royals will need to find some answers in the outfield, and having Jarrod Dyson and Paulo Orlando as every day starters is not one of them.

More from KC Kingdom

• Win $650 GUARANTEED Plus $100 Off NFL Sunday Ticket With Caesars, FanDuel and DraftKings Kansas Promos!
• This Plus-Money Bobby Witt Jr. Prop Bet is on Fire (Hit in 15/21 Games)!
• How to Bet on the Chiefs vs. Cardinals in NFL Preseason Week 2
• The Royals Need to Extend Bobby Witt Jr. Immediately
• The 3 Most Intriguing Games on the Chiefs’ Schedule

Obviously for the long time Royals fans, losing Alex Gordon would suck. Like Billy Butler, who departed last season on a large deal with the Oakland Athletics, Gordon was with this team when they were a joke. He was here for the bad years and it was so fulfilling to see him get to the postseason last year.

Watching Gordon tear up on the ALCS postgame coverage last year was a great moment. He grew so much as a baseball player while with the Royals, and it was awesome to get to see his reward. The best part of all of this is that if Gordon does decide to leave, it’ll be with a World Series ring on his finger.

Gordon has done all he can with the Royals, and the only added goal would be to make the Kansas City Royals a dynasty in the coming years. The price tag might be too tough for that though, so please, be nice to Alex Gordon if he decides to leave. The guy has been an incredible role model for our organization.

Next: Top Ten Moments During 2015 Postseason

Let’s be respectful and wish him the best.