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Alex Gordon Returning to Kansas City: Fantasy Fallout

By Bill Pivetz

Oct 16, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (4) hits a double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning in game one of the ALCS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (4) hits a double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning in game one of the ALCS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Kansas City Royals reached an agreement with star outfielder Alex Gordon. Despite the down year, he is an important part of the team and will help all around him.

The Kansas City Royals are one of few teams in the league that don’t need to make a lot of improvements in the offseason. The pitching staff is pretty much the same, despite losing Johnny Cueto. The bullpen could be even stronger with Wade Davis as the closer and the offense is still in tact now that the team re-signed outfielder Alex Gordon. He and the Royals agreed to a four-year deal Tuesday morning. What does Gordon’s return mean for himself and the rest of the team?

Gordon has spent his whole career in Kansas City. Even though he had two injury-plagued seasons early in his career, he’s been pretty consistent throughout. In nine seasons, he has 134 home runs, 523 RBI, 81 stolen bases and a .269 batting average. He has two 20-home run and four-straight double-digit steal seasons.

This past season was another injury-filled one. Alex Gordon began the season recovering from offseason wrist surgery. He had just three hits in his first 20 at bats. He suffered a left groin strain on July 8 and returned on Sept. 2. At the end of the season, he finished with just 96 hits, 13 home runs, 48 RBI, and a .271 average.

The batting average was nice, .05 points higher than his 2014 average, but the low hit and RBI totals were a little disappointing. He ended the season as the 73rd-best outfielder and 344th-best player overall on the Player Rater, which isn’t good for the 28th outfielder drafted, 109.0 ADP.

The Royals, once known for being a joke in the American League, have now become the model of consistency. After using 101 different lineups in 2014, the team used just 83 different lineups in 2015. Alex Gordon has his best success this season when batting sixth. In 62 games, he had 10 home runs, 28 RBI and a .261 average. Hitting behind Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas will do that for a hitter.

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With the offense remaining the same, Alex Gordon should have close to the same success. However, the injury concerns push him down in my rankings a bit.

Projections: 125 hits, 15 home runs, 64 RBI, six steals, .265 average

Draft: Round 14

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