Alex Gordon Could be on the Market; Cabrera Gets Triple Crown Award

By Matt Musico
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So, the Royals need some starting pitching for 2013, and they’re willing to trade away one of their young position players for it. Buster Olney posted to his blog yesterday that Kansas City could be in the market for two starting pitchers via trade because the free agent market will be too rich for their blood. Olney mentioned outfielder Alex Gordon as one of their potential trade chips.

Gordon is in the midst of a four-year/$37.5 million extension he signed a couple seasons ago, and holds a player option for 2015, worth $12.5 million. The second overall pick in the 2005 amateur draft put together a solid season out in Kansas City, hitting .294/.368/.455 with 17 homers, 72 RBI, 93 runs scored, and a league-leading 51 doubles, while playing a solid left field. He does strike out a bit (140 K’s in ’12), but he’s capable of hitting 20-25 homers and driving in 80-90 runs in a season. It looks as though he’s coming into his own, as he followed a strong 2011 campaign (.303/.376/.502) with the above stats.

September 25, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon (4) at bat against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

The Mets have plenty of young pitchers that are either under team control (Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Familia, Dillon Gee, Collin McHugh), or under very team friendly deals (Jonathon Niese) that could be attractive to Royals GM Dayton Moore. Sandy Alderson should definitely be looking into this since it would satisfy exactly what the Mets would need in their mess that’s called an outfield. The only problem would be bringing in yet another left-handed hitter, but Alderson would be able to find ways to alleviate that situation in the lineup in other potential deals for new pieces to the puzzle that will be the 2013 roster.

Before Game 3 of the World Series, Miguel Cabrera was awarded the Hank Aaron Award for having the best overall offensive season in the American League, but he also received his Triple Crown Award, after leading the league with a .330 batting average, 44 homers, and 139 RBI. This is the first time in 45 years a player has accomplished that feat, with the last one being Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. Did you get a glimpse of what his Triple Crown award looks like? If not, take a look, because it’s pretty legit.

However, Cabrera couldn’t help the Tigers get their offense going, as the Giants and Ryan Vogelsong are now one win away from their second World Series title in three seasons, after tossing back-to-back shutouts for the first time in World Series history since 1966. Pablo Sandoval got two more hits, while teammates Hunter Pence and Brandon Crawford also pulled in multi-hit games. Gregor Blanco drove in the first and eventual game-winning run with an RBI triple in the second inning, followed by a run-scoring single from Crawford. Detroit went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position while leaving 9 men on base. Oh, and did I mention the Giants have their ace, Matt Cain, on the hill tomorrow?

Once Sandoval hit his third homer in three at-bats on Wednesday during Game 1, I thought the Tigers were done. Now, I really think so. Do you think the Tigers can make this a series?

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