Thursday, February 9, 2012

Royals, Gordon agree on one-year deal

The Kansas City Royals have agreed on a one-year deal with left fielder Alex Gordon worth $4.775 million and have avoided arbitration, per Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.

Gordon, who made $1.5 million last year, was asking for $5.45 million and the Royals were offering $4.15 million.

As a former No. 2 overall draft pick (2005), Gordon turns 28 tomorrow and is coming off a breakout season.

Last year, Gordon set career highs across the board in 2011: .303 average, 45 doubles, 23 home runs, 101 runs, 87 runs batted in and 17 steals.

Gordon is the 16th-ranked fantasy outfielder in our 2012 preseason rankings.

Report: Rangers and Nelson Cruz close on two-year deal

The Texas Rangers and shortstop Elvis Andrus agreed to a three-year contract worth $14.4 million yesterday.

Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz may be next.

Per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers and Cruz are close to a two-year deal, which would eliminate the need for their arbitration hearing next week (and next year).

In each of the past three seasons, Cruz has played in 128 regular-season games or less. During that span, Cruz has 84 home runs, 241 runs batted in and 46 stolen bases in 360 games.

If, a big if, Cruz could stay healthy for 150 games this season and maintain his per-game average from the past three seasons, he would hit 35 home runs, 100 runs batted in and 19 stolen bases.

Cruz is the 10th-ranked fantasy outfielder in our 2012 preseason rankings.