The Kansas City Royals would really like to keep Alex Gordon, but if they’re unable to hang on to the left fielder, they’ll probably go after Gerardo Parra, who last played for the Baltimore Orioles.
Gordon is coming off three consecutive All-Star seasons and making $12.5 million last season. He’s a four time gold glove winner and most importantly, a big part of the team’s World Series run in the last two years, hitting .271 last season with 13 home runs to go along with his usually excellent defense. In the playoffs his bat was a little cooler (.241, two home runs) but Gordon played a big part in the team winning their second World Series title.
But Gordon, obviously, is now a man in demand, looking to get a bigger contract. While the Royals are thinking bigger in recent years, they’re not too eager to hand out big contracts, even if it’s a player who has been with the ball club since 2007. He’s in something of a spottable decline, and when it comes to value against pay, giving Gordon a raise just might not be worth it for a franchise that’s not going to compete with the richer ball clubs in baseball.
Parra, coming off a season in which he was traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Orioles, is a cheaper option. He made $6.2 million last season, his first in Milwaukee after spending 2009-2014 in Arizona before getting traded to the Brewers. He batted .291 last season with 14 home runs, and even though he’s not the defensive power Gordon is, he has two gold gloves in his past and is as solid as they come when it comes to the outfield defense. The Royals would prefer to keep Gordon, but Parra is the first name on their shortlist if they have to go in that direction.