The Kansas City Royals are close to signing Alex Gordon to a 1-Year deal and will avoid arbitration, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.

Dutton suggests the Royals are expected to continue talks with Gordon about a multi-year extension afterward, but (my speculation) a spendthrift team might be wary of the cost of that deal continuing upward as Gordon puts injuries and that almost-bust status further behind him.

Gordon, 27, has played 5 seasons with the Royals and maintains a career line of 262 / .343 / .434. 2009-2010 were both hard years for Gordon, playing barely 125 games combined while hitting .232 and .215. 2011 was his first 150+ game non-rookie season, and he hit .303 / .376 / .502 while picking up nearly 6 wins above replacement (that's top tier elite status, if you're counting at home).

• Twitter / @Royals_Report - "Royals appear close to a one-year deal with LF Alex Gordon, which would avoid a Feb. 16 arbitration hearing."
• Twitter / @Royals_Report - "Royals and Gordon expected to continue talks on a multi-year extension after one-year deal is reached."
• Gordon, Royals appear close on one-year deal - Bob Dutton | KansasCity.com
  "Negotiations between the two sides on a multi-year extension are expected to resume once a one-year deal is reached. The Royals are believed to have offered an overall four-year package for about $30 million, which would mirror the deal reached last year with designated hitter Billy Butler."