KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The World Series champion Kansas City Royals kept on shaping their roster for next season on Thursday, exercising an $8 million option on All-Star closer Wade Davis and $5.25 million option on All-Star shortstop Alcides Escobar.

The Royals also declined a $3 million option on outfielder Jonny Gomes, one day after learning All-Star outfielder Alex Gordon had declined his player option and choosing not to exercise options on aging outfielder Alex Rios and unproductive starter Jeremy Guthrie.

General manager Dayton Moore indicated Thursday the Royals are interested in signing Gordon and free agent Ben Zobrist.

“We’ll see what the market brings,” Moore said. “Obviously our goal is to bring back players that are most impactful to us, and you know, the players you mentioned have been a big part of our success here. We’ll do everything we can to make sure we operate efficiently, first of all, and do the best we can to get them back. We’ll see what happens.”

There was no question that Davis and Escobar will be part of the 2016 team.

After a starring turn as a setup man, Davis took over as the closer when Greg Holland required Tommy John surgery. He wound up saving four games in the playoffs and recorded the final out in the 12th inning of Game 5 against the New York Mets to wrap up the World Series.

Holland will likely miss all of next season, which means Davis — who has a $10 million option for 2017 with a $250,000 buyout — will go into spring training as the closer.

Escobar was MVP of the AL Championship Series and proved to be a spark plug when he returned to the top of the lineup late in the season. He hit an inside-the-park homer to lead off Game 1 of the World Series, helping propel the Royals to their first championship since 1985.

While he hit just .257 with three homers and 47 RBIs, Escobar also played marvelous defense,and could win his first Gold Glove when the results are revealed next week.

The Royals have a team option worth $6.5 million with him for the 2017 season, too.

Along with the free agency of Zobrist, reliever Ryan Madson and starter Chris Young, the Royals have numerous other roster decisions to make. Young players such as first baseman Eric Hosmer and third baseman Mike Moustakas are under club control, but arbitration will continue to make them more expensive and put pressure on Moore to sign his cornerstones to long-term deals.

“Scouting and player development and growing our own players will always be our method of operation,” Moore said. “Are we going to win the negotiations for the top guys? We’ll try. But we’re not going to put ourselves in a position where we operate in a way that’s reckless and puts us perhaps in a position where we can’t sign those young players to long-term contracts.”

That is especially important to remember in Gordon’s case. He’s been with the organization for more than a decade, a second overall draft pick who overcame “bust” status to become an All-Star and arguably the finest defensive outfielder in the game.

The challenge with him becomes separating sentimentality from business.

“We don’t want to get caught up in, ‘A player has earned this or earned that.’ It doesn’t matter if you’ve been here four days or 40 years, you have to produce each and every day,” Moore said. “You’re going to be compensated for what you’re going to do, not what you’ve done.”

The contract status of the Royals’ core players isn’t all that’s in limbo. Moore and manager Ned Yost have contracts that expire after next season, making them “lame ducks” — though both said Thursday that they want to remain in Kansas City for years to come.

“I’m totally comfortable where it is right now,” Yost said. “That stuff all takes care of itself. We haven’t discussed it for a second. I love being here; Dayton loves being here; we love this group and we’re in a position where we feel like we can continue to win.”

Besides, the avid outdoorsman said, “I’m more of a lame deer than a lame duck.”

What exactly is the difference, Ned?

“A lame deer is bigger,” Yost replied, “and I grunt more than quack.”

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — All-Star outfielder Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday declined his player option for next season and will test free agency for the first time, though he could still return to the Royals.

Gordon, a four-time Gold Glove winner, has spent his entire nine-year career with the Royals, who drafted him second overall in 2005. But he has truly flourished in the past few years, driving up his value while helping Kansas City to this year’s World Series title.

Gordon’s option rose to $13.75 million after he achieved a series of escalators. He will be 32 in February, which means this might be his last opportunity to sign a lucrative long-term deal, though both sides have expressed interest in Gordon remaining in Kansas City.

Gordon hit .271 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs in 104 games during the regular season.

His decision was the most significant to come down Wednesday as the Royals, just 24 hours after celebrating their championship with a downtown parade, began turning their attention to 2016.

Earlier in the day, the Royals declined mutual options on right fielder Alex Rios and starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie. They still had not announced whether they had exercised club options on All-Star reliever Wade Davis, All-Star shortstop Alcides Escobar or outfielder Jonny Gomes.

General manager Dayton Moore and manager Ned Yost were due to speak to reporters Thursday.

“Our farm system is very, very strong,” Hall of Famer George Brett, now a special assistant in the front office, said earlier Wednesday. “Who knows? If Gordon decides to leave or Rios is no longer on the team, we’ve got a couple of guys in Triple-A that hit over .300 with 20-something home runs and 100-something RBI. OK, so maybe we give these guys a shot. They’re built for the long haul.”

Rios, 34, had a $12.5 million option with a $1.5 million buyout. Guthrie, 36, had a $10 million option with a $3.2 million buyout.

Both moves had been expected. Rios struggled much of the season, slowed by a broken hand and the chickenpox, and hit .255 with four homers and 32 RBIs before contributing a few key hits during the World Series. Guthrie was left off the postseason roster after going 8-8 with a 5.95 ERA and losing his spot in the rotation late in the regular season.

Davis and Escobar are nearly certain to return to Kansas City.

Davis, who has an $8 million option, took over as the closer when Greg Holland required Tommy John surgery. Davis saved four games in the postseason and recorded the final out in the 12th inning of Game 5 against the New York Mets in the World Series.

Holland’s injury means that Davis is expected to close games next season.

Escobar has a $5.25 million option, a relative bargain, considering he was MVP of the AL Championship Series. A first-time All-Star, Escobar hit just .257 with three homers and 47 RBIs but was a sparkplug at the top of the lineup. He also is a Gold Glove finalist.

Gold Glove winners will be announced next week.

Gomes was picked up late in the season from Atlanta but did not play in the postseason. His club option is only $3 million, but he turns 35 later this month and does not offer the same kind of versatility that the Royals value in their everyday players.

— Associated Press —