Gordon to be sent to rehab next weekend

KANSAS CITY -- Royals left fielder Alex Gordon said he will go out on a rehab assignment sometime next weekend.

Royals manager Ned Yost said the club has not determined where Gordon will be sent. It could be either Double-A Northwest Arkansas or Triple-A Omaha.

Gordon, who has been recovering from a grade two-plus groin strain, will be with the team on its upcoming road trip, which starts on Tuesday and goes through Cincinnati and Boston.

Gordon has been out since July 8. He began taking live batting practice before games last week and has been performing running and agility drills, as well as taking fly balls in the outfield.

Gordon said he likely will start out as the designated hitter on the rehab assignment and gradually begin playing in the outfield.

Not stealing signs

Tigers catcher James McCann said earlier this week that he was suspicious that Royals outfielder Alex Rios was stealing signs during the series at Kauffman Stadium.

Rios said he was not.

"He needs to get his facts straight," Rios said. "… I guess he's trying to act tough or something. I don't know."

Yost said his team simply doesn't steal signs.

"It's just not something we try to do," Yost said.