According to a report by the Kansas City Star, the Kansas City Royals are closing in on a one-year deal for left fielder Alex Gordon which would cancel a scheduled arbitration hearing for later this month.
Gordon was asking for $5.45 million in arbitration while the Royals had countered for $4.15 million. Gordon hit .303 last season and led the Royals with 23 home runs and a .502 slugging percentage. He also scored a career high 101 runs and had 87 RBIs while making $1.4 million.
The expected contract should fall somewhere between the asking price of Gordon and the club. If they are able to avoid arbitration, it will keep a streak alive for the Royals of having never gone to a hearing since general manager Dayton Moore joined the club in 2006.
Negotiations on a long term deal are expected to begin again once the one-year agreement has been reached.
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