Royals to exercise team options on closer Wade Davis and shortstop Alcides Escobar

As the offseason officially began Thursday following the conclusion of the World Series, the Royals were expected to exercise team options on closer Wade Davis and shortstop Alcides Escobar.

The decisions are merely a procedural move. Davis, 31, is set to make $10 million in 2017 before being eligible for free agency following the season. Escobar, 29, will make $6.5 million next season in the option year of a contract extension he signed before the 2012 season.

Davis is coming off a season in which he posted a 1.87 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP while battling forearm injuries. He was limited to just 43  1/3 innings, the fewest since his rookie season in 2009, and spent two stints on the disabled list.

If healthy, he remains one of the most reliable relievers in baseball. His contract status and salary could make him a possible trade piece for a franchise that has discussed trimming salary. But the Royals have also expressed a desire to upgrade their bullpen, and Davis remains a vital member of the relief corps.

Escobar, meanwhile, batted .261 with a .292 on-base percentage and a career-high seven homers. His offensive production remained on par with his 2015 numbers, which saw a decline from 2014. His defensive range has also declined from its elite peak, according to advanced metrics.

But Escobar remains one of the most durable shortstops in baseball, playing all 162 games for the second time in three years. And his salary number — $6.5 million — remains reasonable for a starting shortstop.

Butera, Moylan become free agents

Reserve catcher Drew Butera and reliever Peter Moylan were among the eligible players to officially become free agents on Thursday. Butera, 32, had a career season in 2016, batting .285 with a .328 on-base percentage in 133 plate appearances. He was acquired by the Royals during the 2015 season in a deal that sent infielder Ryan Jackson to the Los Angeles Angels.

Moylan, 37, posted a 3.43 ERA in 44  2/3 innings after signing a minor-league deal with the Royals before spring training. He has expressed interest in a return to Kansas City in 2017. The Royals’ 40-man roster is currently at 38.

This story was originally published November 3, 2016 at 9:24 PM with the headline "Royals to exercise team options on closer Wade Davis and shortstop Alcides Escobar."