The Kansas City Royals' 2015 World Series triumph is less than a week old, but already we're knee-deep in free agency rumors after five days.
The biggest question on everyone's minds around Kauffman Stadium is whether or not the team will be able to retain star outfielder Alex Gordon after he declined his $13.75 million player option for 2016.
Kansas City made their intentions clear by extending Gordon a one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer, keeping Gordon close to the vest and away from speaking to other teams for the time being. Regardless of the financials, GM Dayton Moore seems extremely confident that Gordon wants to remain part of KC's core.
Per Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com:
#Royals' Dayton Moore on Alex Gordon: “There’s no doubt in any of our minds that we want Alex and Alex wants to be here."
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) November 5, 2015
While Gordon was a hot topic seemingly at the front of Moore's mind, neither the Royals GM nor manager Ned Yost said one word about starting pitcher Johnny Cueto during a 30-minute conversation with Flanagan:
We just talked to Dayton and Ned for 30 minutes and Johnny Cueto's name didnt come up once. #Royals
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) November 5, 2015
An anonymous Royals official described Cueto as the most “mysterious, confusing player I’ve ever been around,” according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. All indications from Kauffman Stadium seem to be pointing towards the Royals dropping back in the Cueto discussions while putting most of their eggs in the Alex Gordon basket. There's also the case of Ben Zobrist's impending free agency and what appears to be a mutual desire for both sides to come to terms on an agreement.
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