(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ The Royals and outfielder Alex Gordon
avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract worth
$4,775,000.
Gordon could earn a $25,000 bonus for getting 700 plate
appearances, 12 more than his career high set last year.
An arbitration hearing was scheduled for next week. Gordon filed
a request for $5.45 million, while the team countered with $4.15
million. He made $1.5 million last season.
Gordon is coming off a breakout season in which he hit .303 with
45 doubles, 23 homers and 87 RBIs. The only other players with at
least a .300 average, 45 doubles and 20 homers were Miguel Cabrera,
Jacoby Ellsbury, Adrian Gonzalez and Robinson Cano.
Kansas City general manager Dayton Moore has been working a
long-term deal with Gordon, who has spent his entire career in the
Royals organization. Those negotiations are expected to resume now
that the outfielder is under contract.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)