Kansas City Royals: Sad and Costly Decline of Alex Gordon
By Joel Wagler
WHAT CAN THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS DO WITH ALEX GORDON NOW?
That’s the big question and there is no good answer. The Kansas City Royals owe Alex Gordon $20 million for 2018, $20 million for 2019, and $4 million for his 2020 option buyout. That is a lot of cheddar!
When the Royals traded for Melky Cabrera a few weeks ago, it looked like they might have accepted the fact that Gordon isn’t going to improve. They benched Gordon for a couple of games, but now they are running him out there, despite the fact Cabrera can play left and Jorge Bonifacio is out producing Gordon across the board.
Over the weekend, the Royals set a new record in futility. They have gone 43 stunning innings, through Monday’s game, without scoring a run. That is nearly five full games. They have been shut out 14 times this season, including six times in August, yet they continue to send Gordon out there every day, despite his .201 batting average.
…the Royals set a new record in futility. They have gone 34 innings, through Sunday’s game, without scoring a run.
He’s is not heating up, either. He is batting just .191 in August.
Alex Gordon certainly isn’t the only reason this team is struggling. No one seems to be hot right now, and the rotation and bullpen have been crushed by injuries and poor performances all season.
Yet, Gordon is becoming the poster child for this team’s misfortune because his performance has been so bereft of positives. He was so good for so long, it is downright painful to see him struggle so mightily.
Other than bench him, which they seem loathe to do, there is little for the Royals to do. Does anyone think the Royals are going to eat $44 million and cut him? Does it seem likely Gordon would walk away from $44 million and retire?
No, to both of those questions.