Kansas City Royals: Alex Gordon entering final year of massive contract

The Kansas City Royals signed Alex Gordon to a four-year $72 million deal back in 2016. Believe it or not, we’re entering the final year of that massive contract.

When the Kansas City Royals won the World Series in 2015, everyone was obviously thrilled. The franchise won their first World Series title in 30 years and it was the first time many Royals fans saw their team be at the top of the mountain.

The lingering storyline that offseason, however, was a bit of a solemn one, as no one knew what the future had in store for career Royal, Alex Gordon. Gordon played a pivotal role in getting the Royals a championship, with his biggest play coming in Game 1 of the World Series when he hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning.

Gordon was drafted by the Royals with the second overall pick in 2005 and spent his collegiate career at Nebraska as a third baseman. The Royals tried putting Gordon at third, but after he struggled big time in his early years as a major leaguer, the organization made a gutsy move; They sent Gordon back to the minors and had him learn a new position.

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!

That position was left field, where Gordon reinvented himself and became a six-time Gold Glove winner. The former Husker made dazzling defensive plays in the outfield and fans were really excited when the team re-signed him after that 2015 World Series title.

The contract was definitely more for what Gordon had given the city and the organization rather than what he’d provide in the future. He was 32 years old at the time the deal was made and that deal was the largest in Royals history.

It was a lot of money, but most fans were more than okay with shelling out that cash to Gordo after all he had done for the franchise. He was responsible for one of the most memorable home runs in Kansas City Royals history and that contract was the perfect thank you gift for hitting that bomb.

The first two years of the deal didn’t go according to plan, as the Royals outfielder hit .220 in 2016 and a horrid .208 in 2017. He hit better last season, increasing his batting average to .245 and he was still a clutch defender, as showcased by his sixth Gold Glove that he was rewarded with for his defensive efforts in 2018.

While Gordon hasn’t lived up to the hype of his deal at all, there’s still one year remaining on the initial deal. There’s a mutual option for 2020 worth $23 million, per Spotrac and it’s highly unlikely that the Royals pay Gordon that dough considering they’ve yet to exercise a mutual option. It’d cost $4 million to buyout the rest of his contract.

Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com did a piece on Gordon back in August where the Royals outfielder said he’d flirted with retirement once his contract came to an end.

"“Obviously, I’m getting up there in age in terms of not many years of me left playing,” he said. “I think I dealt with this mentally the last time I signed a contract. It depends on how I feel in one year and two months. Who knows? I may want to play longer. Or I may just want to be with my family. It’s the family decision that I think about most. [Retirement] crosses your mind."

Perhaps if Alex Gordon continues to be a stellar defender and can produce better at the plate than he has over the last three years, he could have a role with the Royals beyond 2019. To be honest though, if he were to remain in Kansas City, a front office role would make more sense than as a player.

Whatever happens a year from now with Gordon, let’s enjoy at least one more year of dominating defense out in left field. We’ll at least be treated to that.