Jeffery Flanagan of MLB.com is reporting that free agent outfielder Alex Gordon has agreed to return to the only club he’s ever played for professionally, the Kansas City Royals.
According to sources, Alex Gordon and the #Royals have agreed to a mult-year deal, pending physical. Announcement likely today
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) January 6, 2016
SB Nation’s Royals Blog Royals Review is reporting that the deal is for four years and about $70 million dollars, pegging the average annual value at $17.5 million, which is slightly lower than projected. Without knowing the other offers presented, and we never will, it is easy to assume that Alex Gordon took a hometown discount to stay in Kansas City.
Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan has confirmed the report by Royals Review of the financials of the deal:
Sources: Alex Gordon to Kansas City is done, confirming report from @FlannyMLB. Deal is believed to be in the four-year, low-$70M range.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 6, 2016
Alex Gordon has been on a tear since 2011 when he finally broke out after being a top prospect of not only the Kansas City Royals, but in the entire MLB. He has a career .269/.348/.435 career slash line to pair with three All-Star appearances and four gold gloves.
Alex Gordon had a solid year despite missing time with a freak groin injury suffered while running into the outfield wall. In 104 games he slashed .271/.377/.432 with 13 home runs and 48 runs batted in. Gordon had played 151 games or more every year since 2011 before the 2015 season.
Gordon, 32 has made a reported $41.3 million dollars so far in his career and this next contract will push him over the $100 million dollar barrier in career earnings by its end.
UPDATE:
Gordon agrees to 4 year $72M deal with royals
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 6, 2016
CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman confirms the “about $70 million” part, locking Alex Gordon’s deal in at $72 million over four years. ($18.0 million AAV)