KANSAS CITY, MO – Louisville Slugger® and MLB Network announced Thursday that Kendrys Morales has been named the 2015 Silver Slugger Award winner at Designated Hitter in the American League. Morales becomes the eighth-different Royals player to win a Silver Slugger award (11th time overall), and first since designated hitter Billy Butler in 2012.

The Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award winners are decided by a vote of Major League Baseball managers and coaches who select the players they determine to be the best offensive producers at each position in the American and National Leagues. Selections are based on a combination of offensive statistics, including batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, as well as the managers’ and coaches’ general impressions of a player’s overall offensive value. Managers and coaches are not allowed to vote for players on their own teams. Tabulation of the balloting is verified by the accounting firm of Mountjoy Chilton Medley LLP.

Morales, 32, signed a free agent contract with the Royals last December 16 and enjoyed a bounce-back year, hitting .290 with 41 doubles, two triples, 22 homers, while becoming the first KC player to drive in 100 or more runs (106) since Butler in 2012. His 41 doubles tied for fourth in the American League, while his RBI total ranked him sixth. The switch-hitter led the A.L. and ranked second in the Majors, driving in 53 runs with two outs, which also set a Royals record for a single-season. He hit .337 (68-for-202) with two down, which was good for fifth in the Junior Circuit. He also blasted four home runs and collected 10 RBI in 13 postseason starts this year. Morales hit a pair of solo shots in Game #1 of the ALDS vs. Houston, marking the fifth multi-homer game by a Royals player in the postseason.

— Royals Press Release —

NEW YORK (AP) — World Series MVP Salvador Perez and Kansas City Royals teammates Eric Hosmer and Alcides Escobar have won Gold Gloves.

The awards for fielding excellence were announced Tuesday by Rawlings.

Yoenis Cespedes won the AL prize in left field even though he was traded from Detroit to the New York Mets on July 31.

Kansas City’s Alex Gordon had won the previous four gold glove awards in left field.

Perez was honored for the third consecutive season as the AL catcher, as was Hosmer at first base. Escobar won for the first time at shortstop.

The other AL winners were second baseman Jose Altuve and pitcher Dallas Keuchel of Houston, Baltimore third baseman Manny Machado, Tampa Bay center fielder Kevin Kiermaier and Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun.

In the NL, catcher Yadier Molina and right fielder Jason Heyward won from St. Louis. Arizona also had two winners with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and center fielder A.J. Pollock.

Other NL winners were Miami second baseman Dee Gordon, San Francisco shortstop Brandon Crawford, Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado, Pittsburgh left fielder Starling Marte and Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke.

— Associated Press —

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 —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals have declined mutual options on right fielder Alex Rios and starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, beginning the reshaping of their team one day after celebrating their World Series triumph with a downtown parade.

Other decisions loom Wednesday: All-Star reliever Wade Davis, All-Star shortstop Alcides Escobar and outfielder Jonny Gomes have club options, while Alex Gordon has a player option worth $13.75 million after the All-Star outfielder achieved a series of escalators.

The 34-year-old Rios had a $12.5 million option with a $1.5 million buyout, while the 36-year-old Guthrie had a $10 million option with a $3.2 million buyout.

Both moves had been expected. Rios struggled much of the season, though he contributed a few key hits in the World Series. Guthrie was left off every postseason roster.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The world champion Kansas City Royals basked in the adulation of hundreds of thousands of ecstatic fans in a parade and rally Tuesday that nearly shut down downtown for hours.

After driving a 2.3-mile route in a caravan, team owner David Glass, manager Ned Yost and several of the Royals returned the love by telling fans they could not have captured the World Series without their support and calling the turnout for Tuesday’s celebration ”unbelievable” and ”amazing.”

City officials estimated Tuesday that 500,000 people attended the events.

”This is a day like none of us have seen before and we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts,” Yost said. ”What (the team) wanted most was to come to this city to win a championship for you guys. We celebrate it with you today.”

Left fielder Alex Gordon, who has been with the team since 2007, recalled years of losing seasons for the Royals. ”To see this unfold to this is unbelievable. We’re the World Series champs and you are the best fans in the world,” he told the crowd.

Gordon, who is not expected to exercise an option on his contract for next season, gave no hint about his possible future with the team.

Johnny Gomes, a midseason acquisition from the Atlanta Braves who didn’t make the playoff roster but was credited with bringing positive energy to the clubhouse, was the most animated of the players, forcing the reluctant relieving corps to take a bow and introducing several players. He also asked for a moment of silence in honor of Edinson Volquez’s father, Chris Young’s father and Mike Moustakas’ mother, all of whom died this year.

”It’s unbelievable what those guys did,” Gomes said, emphatically.

Volquez drew loud applause when he vowed that the Royals would be back on the same stage next season after winning another world championship.

Fans began arriving hours before the festivities and were packed in so tightly that many could not move. Yet the mood remained mostly jovial, with people waving flags, hats and signs, thrilled for their team’s first World Series win since 1985.

Hall of Famer George Brett told the crowd this year’s team was better than the one he played on in 1985.

”These guys are the best team ever, in my opinion, and I’m sure in yours too,” he said.

Several area school districts called off classes for the day and Rachel Bryant, of Kansas City, took advantage and brought her 7-year-old son, Jayden, to the parade.

”It’s been 30 years since the last championship. Who knows if it will be another 30 years? It might be a one-time experience for him. I hope not; I hope we’re back here next year,” she said.

Steve Templeton, of suburban Lee’s Summit, said the championship brought the city together.

”The Royals were a doormat for so long and look at it now, it’s just a sea of blue,” he said. ”It’s fun because they are bringing everybody together, every nationality, every kind of person is here together because we love the team.”

Downtown was so crowded that some fans who came for the festivities left before they began, realizing they wouldn’t be able to see or hear anything.

”It’s a shame because we’re so proud of the team,” said Mary Winston of suburban Overland Park, Kansas, who brought her five children three hours before the rally and left before it began. ”But with five children we would have had to be here at 5 a.m. to get a seat.”

The Kansas City Transit Authority said those trying to take public transportation to the events endured waits of one- to three-hours. Spokeswoman Cindy Baker said the crowds were ”definitely more than we expected,” with a conservative estimate of about 100,000 people being shuttled before the rally, with more after it began. Police spokesman Tye Grant said traffic was so heavy that some drivers parked along the interstate and walked.

— Associated Press —