Such is life in the baseball.
One day you’re on a float in front of hundreds of thousands of adoring fans. The next, you’re unemployed.
On Wednesday, the Royals declined the mutual options on pitcher Jeremy Guthrie and outfielder Alex Rios.
Last December, Rios signed a $9.5 million, one-year contract with a $12.5 million option for 2016 that includes a $1.5 million buyout.
Guthrie was in the final year of a three-year, $25 million deal. There is a $3.2 million buyout.
On Tuesday, pitchers Johnny Cueto, Ryan Madson, Franklin Morales, Chris Young and second baseman/outfielder Ben Zobrist all became free agents.