Alex Gordon Back to KC

[Centerfield]

4 years, $72 million. That means the Royals lost Zobrist, but are otherwise intact no? Plus they fortified their bullpen.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Lost Cueto.

[Centerfield]

That's right. Lost both rentals from last year.

So they took a hit too.

[Frayed Knot]

This was unexpected as the winter began, at least according to most of the chatter.

Good for the Royals though. Gordon grew up in nearby Nebraska, starred at U-Nebraska, came through the KC system including at AAA Omaha, NE, and now looks to be taking his place as a lifelong KC Royal not all that long after it was assumed that no one would want to play in KC if given the choice or that the team could afford to keep even those who wanted to stay.
He'll likely never be 'the next George Brett' as he was billed at after being drafted as a 3rd baseman 2nd overall (2005), but is carving out a real nice career for himself otherwise.
Is also a good lesson about not labeling highly drafted guys as a "bust" too early. Came up as a 23 y/o but really didn't hit his stride until age 27, the year which (perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not) they moved him off of 3B and further away from the George Brett comparisons.