Alex

Gordon

The Platinum Glove Award recognizes the top overall defender among the Gold Glove winners for that particular season. It’s a terrific parting gift for one of the premier defenders in all of baseball over the last 14 seasons, having won eight Gold Gloves -- including each of his last four seasons. It’s the second time that Gordon has won the Platinum Glove (2014). He unseats Athletics’ third baseman Matt Chapman who had taken home the honor in each of the last two seasons.

The full results were unveiled live on ESPN on Tuesday night. White is the first rookie first baseman to win a Gold Glove since the awards became a thing in 1957 and the second Mariners rookie to win a Gold Glove, joining Ichiro Suzuki in 2001. The other winners in the American League: Cesar Hernandez 2B, J.P. Crawford SS, Isiah Kiner-Falefa 3B, Alex Gordon LF, Luis Robert CF, Joey Gallo RF, Roberto Perez C, Griffin Canning P.

The news is confirmed now with an official statement from the Royals. Gordon, 36, has batted just .215/.299/.322 in 167 plate appearances this season, but he’ll hang up his cleats having captured seven Gold Gloves -- along with a Platinum Glove in 2014 -- and with three American League All-Star nods. He spent his entire 14-year MLB career with the Royals and helped them to the World Series championship in 2015.

The Royals had been held off the scoreboard before Gordon hit a long bomb over the center field wall. He also added a single in what was his first multi-hit effort since August 6. Gordon isn’t a fantasy option these days unless you’re in a very deep league.

That pinch-hitter, Ryan McBroom, went on to hit a two-run homer. Gordon is batting .179/.258/.270 in 62 plate appearances. The Royals might be better off reducing his role in the team’s outfield now that Hunter Dozier is back, but any urgency to do so is reduced with Franchy Cordero, Bubba Starling and Nick Heath all on the injured list.

Gordon opened the scoring in the contest when he took Dylan Cease deep in the second inning. It would be his lone hit in three at-bats on the day. He’s off to a slow start at the plate offensively, slashing just .214/.267/.357 with one homer and one RBI.

Gordon has enrolled in classes and would re-enter the draft pool for 2006 if he attends one when school begins Monday. “I don’t think I will,” Gordon said. “But I’m enrolled in classes.”

Gordon put up a decent .741 OPS with 13 home runs and 76 RBI in 150 games last season for Kansas City while earning a Gold Glove for his defense in left field, but 2020 will be his age-36 campaign and he apparently struggled to attractive lucrative offers on the open market this winter. He’ll be entering his 14th major league season with the Royals, who drafted him second overall back in 2005 out of the University of Nebraska.

The agreement was first reported by MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan and has now been made official by the Royals. Gordon, as part of the deal, will waive his 10-and-5 rights, allowing Kansas City to trade him at any point this year. He’ll get a $500,000 assignment bonus if that happens. The soon-to-be 36-year-old won the seventh Gold Glove Award of his career in 2019 while slashing .266/.345/.396 with 13 home runs, 76 RBI, five stolen bases, and 77 runs scored over 150 games played.

There’s no word yet on the financial details, but Flanagan says the new deal could be announced on Tuesday or Wednesday after Gordon completes his physical. It took until a few weeks before the beginning of spring training, but Gordon returning to the only organization he’s known always seemed inevitable. Slated to turn 36 next month, Gordon might wind up retiring after the 2020 campaign.