Royals exercise options on Davis, Escobar, make Gomes a free agent

The Kansas City Royals exercised their 2016 contract options on closer Wade Davis and shortstop Alcides Escobar on Thursday, but declined their option on outfielder Jonny Gomes, who didn't make it onto the club's postseason roster.

Davis, who turned 30 in September, enjoyed another sublime season at the back of Kansas City's bullpen, leading all qualified relievers in ERA (0.94), WHIP (0.79), and opponents' batting average (.143) across 69 appearances. Though the 30-year-old spent much of the season in a setup role, Davis logged 17 saves in 18 opportunities, intermittently filling in for oft-injured Greg Holland, who had season-ending Tommy John surgery in September. Davis, an All-Star for the first time in 2015, will make $8 million next season.

Escobar earned his first All-Star berth this season, too, but hit only .257/.293/.320 with three home runs and 17 stolen bases in 148 games while producing fewer wins above replacement (1.5) than 19 other shortstops. The 28-year-old leadoff hitter exploded in the postseason, though, hitting .329/.347/.514 with eight extra-base hits in 16 games and grabbing MVP honors in the American League Championship Series. He will earn $5.25 million in 2016.

Gomes, however, will become a free agent following his brief stint in Kansas City. Acquired by the Royals in an August trade with the Atlanta Braves, the 34-year-old appeared in just 12 games throughout the final month of the campaign, hitting .167/.235/.233 with 14 strikeouts before being omitted from the playoff roster.