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Royals, Alex Gordon, Reportedly Close to Reaching Agreement

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Welcome to the Gordon-palooza, in which we avoid the Gordon-pocalypse.

According to Dutton, the two sides are a) working on a one-year deal for 2012 to avoid arbitration and b) setting up a longer contract. Here's the money quote:

The Royals are believed to have offered an overall four-year package for about $30 million, which would mirror the deal reached last year with designated hitter Billy Butler.

The Royals and Gordon can do the one-year dance for 2012 and 2013, but they presumably wouldn't want to do so, unless one of the parties truly wants out. It's tough to talk about a deal that hasn't been struck yet, but a 4/30 deal could be fair for both sides.

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World ends in December anyways,

One year deal is all we need.

Do these effectively hide my thunder?

by splitty on Feb 7, 2012 8:27 PM EST reply actions  

With mutual options

Stuck following the Royals since 1976.

by A. B. Aird on Feb 7, 2012 8:28 PM EST up reply actions  

Strangely

the Royals’ home page doesn’t seem to have a “time until pitchers & catchers” countdown clock, which I’m sure they had in previous off-seasons. (Followed by a “time until first spring training game” countdown, followed by a “time until Opening Day” countdown.) Considering that there’s probably more anticipation and optimism for the Royals for this season than there has been in a very long time, it’s odd it’t not there this year.

Maybe the people who normally put it there were needed for All-Star Game prep.

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Feb 7, 2012 8:48 PM EST up reply actions  

maybe we're trying to keep it on the down low.

look at the chiefs and their fiasco. I rather not have another spying/bugging crisis

by Chiefshero on Feb 7, 2012 9:00 PM EST up reply actions  

huh?

you think the chiefs are trying to avoid getting attention? b/c the chiefs are run like shit? that makes absolutely no sense. this is the perfect time for the royals to grab all of the attention they can b/c the chiefs suck and are run by sketchy dudes.

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Feb 7, 2012 9:08 PM EST up reply actions  

Yeah, they have to talk about the one-year deal because they must be getting close to his hearing date

And if they haven’t agreed to the long-term deal by the hearing date, probably both sides will want to have an agreement in place for a 2012 one-year deal so they can avoid the hearing.

But of course that one-year deal does not preclude a long-term deal to tack onto it or replace it, which they could agree to at any time.

You may know me as NYRoyal.

by Scott McKinney on Feb 7, 2012 8:34 PM EST reply actions  

Feb 16 IIRC

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 7, 2012 8:51 PM EST up reply actions  

That IIRCs Me

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Feb 7, 2012 9:52 PM EST up reply actions  

Gordon will likely sign for ~$5 million this year (roughly halfway between each side's arb offer)

So a 4 year, $30 million extension would be $5 million for this year and then an average of $8.3 million over the next three years (last year of arbitration and two years of free agency). Barring serious injury or other disaster, Gordon would be lock to make $7-8 million next year in arbitration. Getting his first two free agent years for essentially the same amount would be a very good deal for the Royals. From Gordon’s perspective, Butler is not a great comp since Butler signed his extension when he was only in his first year of arbitration and had three years of club control remaining.

by Gopherballs on Feb 7, 2012 9:03 PM EST reply actions  

From Gordon’s perspective, Butler is not a great comp since Butler signed his extension when he was only in his first year of arbitration and had three years of club control remaining.

And because Butler is highly unlikely to leave the dugout wearing a glove more than 10 or so times a year during his deal.

by Sweep_the_Leg on Feb 7, 2012 9:39 PM EST up reply actions  

Also true, but I would be willing to bet that Gordon would put up more WAR than Butler would over the lifespan of their deals

And Gordon might end up putting the competition out of Butler’s reach within the first two years of his deal.

by Sweep_the_Leg on Feb 7, 2012 9:45 PM EST up reply actions  

probably...but you have to take into account risk of gordon providing next to nothing....

there’s very little risk of butler getting hurt/stopping hitting…

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Feb 7, 2012 9:47 PM EST up reply actions  

Only cause you can't pull fat

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 7, 2012 9:56 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

Gently.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Feb 7, 2012 10:05 PM EST up reply actions  

Fantastic work Phil

I'm waiting for my wave of talent to arrive.

by mitchfreakingmaier! on Feb 7, 2012 10:55 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions  

I Work Hard

Literally

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Feb 7, 2012 11:21 PM EST up reply actions  

and Butler is much more reliable than Gordon

If going just by ’11, Gordon is a much better player than Butler. If going by the previous 4 yrs, Butler is the more valuable player.

by Bronzillo on Feb 7, 2012 9:51 PM EST up reply actions  

actually, if it is an extension,

than the 4 yr deal wouldn’t start until 2013 as it would be extending it onto the end of the current contract. If it were 4/30 mil, that would be the equivalent of 5/35 counting this season.

That seems a bit too good to be true.

I do think that by signing Gordon to a 1 yr deal and then working out a long term deal, it could turn out better as you gain the equivalent of an extra year at 5 mil.

by Bronzillo on Feb 7, 2012 9:46 PM EST up reply actions  

Not always

Ryan Howard’s “extension” hasn’t even started yet and he signed it over a year ago.

Extension means it is added onto the end of an existing contract. What your saying is they would be completely reworking a new contract and wiping out the 1 yr deal. By definition, that is not what an extension is.

by Bronzillo on Feb 7, 2012 9:55 PM EST up reply actions  

but thats how it generally works in baseball....

there are numerous examples of this every year…but if you’re really into the semantics of the word….yeah….

going by what is done in baseball, you’re wrong. when the news comes out that they’ve signed a 4 or 5 year extension, it’ll take the place of this year’s contract

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Feb 7, 2012 10:01 PM EST up reply actions  

Anything beyond a one-year deal for any player currently subject to arbitration

would necessarily be classified as an “extension”. Arb contracts are only one-year deals. Even though a team may have the ability to tender any arb-eligible player, as soon as the player signs the “extension” he is necessarily giving the team more than one year of control.

by Sweep_the_Leg on Feb 7, 2012 10:01 PM EST up reply actions  

4/40 Would Be

Fine with me.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Feb 7, 2012 9:56 PM EST reply actions  

Nate Bukaty tweets

Reports are Royals are offering 4/30, Gordon is asking for 6/80

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 7, 2012 10:12 PM EST reply actions  

Laughably so

If that is Close’s hard bargain, than I don’t want to hear anybody accuse Glass or Moore of lowballing Gordon on this one.

That would be completely irresponsible and unprecedented for a player with his track record of injuries and crappiness.

by Bronzillo on Feb 7, 2012 10:25 PM EST up reply actions  

although,

it would still be much better than Fielder’s new contract.

by Bronzillo on Feb 7, 2012 10:28 PM EST up reply actions  

how about if its structured so that the last two years are team options at say, 15 and 17 million...

that puts us at 4/48…that seems sorta fair to me. mitigates some of the royals risk, but rewards gordon handsomely if he performs and therefore misses out on his chance at a major FA deal

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Feb 7, 2012 10:29 PM EST up reply actions  

Do you mean

4/48 + 15 +17 club options = $48 guaranteed, but up to $80 mill? I think that sounds good. Probably depends on the buyout, maybe a few million?

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 7, 2012 10:31 PM EST up reply actions  

4/43 + 15 +17

With a 2 Million buy out the first season and a 3 million buyout the second.
Guarentees 4/48, with the possibility of reaching $75.

"We don’t have guys with a long history of being effective in the seventh and eighth innings."
~Trey Hillman, master of understatements.

by RoyalPug on Feb 7, 2012 10:34 PM EST up reply actions  

yeah that would be tolerable if the buyout was reasonable.

still a bit too high I think. Maybe 4/38 with the same 2 options.

Mike Sweeney had a much better track record than Gordon before he inked his deal .That contract killed KC for years (many other contributing factors of course).

by Bronzillo on Feb 7, 2012 10:39 PM EST up reply actions  

he also had no position

versus being gold glove caliber in the OF

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Feb 7, 2012 10:42 PM EST up reply actions  

Also there has been salary inflation since then

5/55 ain’t what it used to be

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 7, 2012 10:43 PM EST up reply actions  

contracts have plateaued more than you think since then

Arod’s 1st 10/250 deal and Manny’s 8/200 deal were both signed before sweeney’s contract.

by Bronzillo on Feb 7, 2012 10:58 PM EST up reply actions  

.324/.396/.535

the 4 seasons leading up to his contract with less than half the K’s and more walks.

by Bronzillo on Feb 7, 2012 10:50 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

very good?

the eye test, the gg voters and the advanced metrics all agree

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Feb 8, 2012 10:08 AM EST up reply actions  

Correct me if I'm reading fangraphs wrong but it looks like almost all of his fielding value came from his arm.

That’s something I don’t expect to continue long term because teams will wisen up. Does his defense outside of his arm hold up? The metrics aren’t as clear on that, not to mention it’s still too small to tell one way or the other.

Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
Rock Chalk Talk

by Warden11 on Feb 8, 2012 12:25 PM EST up reply actions  

most of his value is from his arm....

however, while throwing guys out has value, so does stopping those guys from even trying to advance…its just less quantifiable

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Feb 8, 2012 12:53 PM EST up reply actions  

The situation is tricky.

It is great that Gordon had a career year, but now his agent wants him to be paid as if that will be the norm going forward. I guess that contract would be fair, but it had better work out for the Royals sake.

by BeauJackson on Feb 7, 2012 10:33 PM EST up reply actions  

What Better Gamble

Can this franchise take?

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Feb 7, 2012 11:25 PM EST up reply actions  

He seems like a good bet.

I just get nervous whenever this team gives out big money. Thoughts of Jose Guillen haunt me.

by BeauJackson on Feb 7, 2012 11:35 PM EST up reply actions  

No Comparison, Really

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Feb 7, 2012 11:45 PM EST up reply actions  

I thought the Royals would essentially offer Gordon the Butler contract

And go from there, but I wasn’t sure what Gordon’s counter would be. I never thought about a 6th year, just guessed it would be 4 years with a club option. Two option years would be nice.

Wasn’t there another thread where someone calculated the sweet spot for a Gordon extension in terms of money and WAR?

by thelaundry on Feb 7, 2012 10:30 PM EST up reply actions  

I wouldn't want to guarantee Gordon more than four years as the Royals GM

I like the club option idea for years five and six, but for the total deal to be 6/$80 really handcuffs the team in 2016 and 2017 when they may be looking to extend Hosmer, Moustakas et al.

I would rather do 4/$60m then guarantee him 6/$80m. But I would much more prefer 4/$52m+$15m+$17m club options for years five and six. Total contract comes out to $82m but big picture I don’t think the Royals financially can pick up year six (and maybe not even year five) without hindering themselves in other re-signings.

We should trade for Vance Worley.

by JKWard on Feb 8, 2012 2:03 AM EST reply actions  

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