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.

Dusty Baker got another managing job, this time with the Washington Nationals. And Major League Baseball got another black skipper, something the man in charge of the sport called “encouraging.”

The Reds stayed in-house for their next manager, giving pitching coach Bryan Price a three-year deal Tuesday to take the team deep into the playoffs. The job carries enormous expectations for the 51-year-old Price, who has been one of the most successful pitching coaches in the majors but has never managed at any level. Dusty Baker led the Reds to three 90-win seasons and three playoff appearances in the last four years, but Cincinnati got knocked out in the first round of the postseason each time. Price was a left-handed pitcher for six years in the minors. He started his coaching career in Seattle’s farm system and was the Mariners’ pitching coach from 2000-05. He moved to Arizona as pitching coach from 2006-09. – Associated Press

The Cincinnati Reds fired Dusty Baker on Friday, parting ways with the manager who led them to their best stretch of success since the Big Red Machine but couldn’t get them past the first round of the postseason. The move came after the Reds lost the wild-card playoff in Pittsburgh 6-2 on Tuesday night, ending the season with their sixth straight loss. He had a year left on his two-year deal. The final-week fade was a major factor in the decision, general manager Walt Jocketty said in a phone interview. “Just the way we played lately was a factor,” Jocketty said. “But I think the way the season ended was kind of the final decision. The last six games certainly played a big part in this.” Associated Press