With the most coveted award in all of baseball — the World Series trophy — safely in the hands of the Boston Red Sox, the hardware really will begin to make the rounds, handed out to the best of the game’s best in the coming days and weeks.

The Blue Jays have decided to exercise the $4 million option on Casey Janssen’s contract for the 2014 season.

General manager Jack Zduriencik has concluded his initial round of talks in Phoenix with prospective managerial candidates for the Mariners, and he will return to Seattle this weekend and then begin bringing in several finalists for second interviews in the coming days.

Today, in virtually every Major League front office, they’re asking themselves the same essential question: What can be learned from the Boston Red Sox winning the 2013 World Series?

Padres bench coach Rick Renteria officially joined the list of Tigers managerial candidates Thursday, interviewing with team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski for the opportunity to replace the recently retired Jim Leyland.

In addition to Ervin Santana and Bruce Chen, whom Kansas City has expressed interest in bringing back next season, infielder Miguel Tejada and first baseman Carlos Pena are on the Royals’ official list of free agents.

The Dodgers on Thursday declined the 2014 options on left-hander Chris Capuano and second baseman Mark Ellis, buying out each for $1 million to make them free agents, although either could re-sign with the club.

Viewership for the entire postseason increased 20 percent from last year — to an average of 6.3 million — across FOX, TBS and MLB Network, the largest single-year increase since 2009. From the Wild Card games to the Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series, viewership increased for each round, in addition to July’s All-Star Game in New York.

As expected, the Cardinals declined their 2014 mutual option on Jake Westbrook. That option would have paid Westbrook $9.5 million next season. Instead, the Cards will cover the $1 million buyout and allow Westbrook to enter free agency.

The Royals exercised their club option on right-hander James Shields, who was also named winner of the 2013 Joe Burke Special Achievement Award by the Kansas City chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

The Rangers have declined to pick up their option on designated hitter Lance Berkman for 2014. He was one of 147 players who became a free agent on Thursday, the day after the conclusion of the World Series.

The Indians announced on Thursday that reliever Chris Perez has been released, allowing the closer to enter this offseason’s free-agent pool.

While the Cardinals were immersed in their World Series ride, general manager John Mozeliak did not neglect to prepare for the reality that was right around the corner. The end of the season was imminent — though it did end a day earlier than the club desired — and with that, the offseason has been ushered in. Before he could properly reflect on this past season, Mozeliak had to turn his attention to 2014.

The Nationals named Matt Williams their sixth manager in team history on Thursday. The club has scheduled a 2 p.m. ET news conference on Friday to introduce the new skipper.

On Thursday, the Indians re-signed designated hitter Jason Giambi to a one-year Minor League contract that includes an invitation to Spring Training.

Matt Williams’ lack of managerial experience prior to being hired by the Nationals was not a deterrent for GM/president Mike Rizzo, who has known Williams since their days together more than a decade ago with the D-backs.

Kevin Seitzer, a former All-Star and 12-year Major League veteran, has been hired as the Blue Jays’ hitting coach. He held the same position with the Royals from 2009-12.