The Royals add more depth.
Today the Royals acquired super-utility man Nick Gordon from the Orioles, with the trade details to be named later, according to FanSided reporter Robert Murray. Gordon hit .227/.258/.369 last season with the Marlins, mainly playing left and center field,
Gordon is a familiar name for many Royals fans after he spent the first three years of his major league career with the Twins where he was once the fifth overall pick in the draft. Gordon has shown flashes at times of being the player Twins fans had hoped for early in his major league career, but missed a lot of time in 2023 and was traded to the Marlins last off-season. His father Tom pitched for the Royals from 1988 to 1995 and his half-brother Dee Strange-Gordon led the major leagues in stolen bases three times.
The Marlins removed Gordon from their 40-man roster last August, and he spent the rest of the year in AAA Jacksonville. Gordon opted to sign a minor league deal this off-season with the Orioles with hopes of making his way to the major league roster. The Orioles roster is loaded, and has a lot of depth, making this a tall task for Gordon, allowing the Royals to make a move for him.
Gordon will likely spend some time in AAA Omaha, but has a real chance to crack the major league roster due to his super utility value. Gordon has experience playing all three outfield spots as well as second base, third base, and shortstop. We know Matt Quatraro loves to have utility guys and adjust his lineup accordingly. With the known struggles of the Royals outfield, it can’t hurt to add more potential outfield depth, especially with a guy who can play all over the field.
Gordon also has some speed on the bases, and with Dairon Blanco going on the injured list, Tyler Tolbert has found some time in Kansas City recently. Tolbert is a similar player to Gordon and is also a true utility guy who can play all over the field, but has minimal major league experience. Gordon provide some insurance on the front as well and gives the team some real depth across the board down the line.