Even general manager Dayton Moore acknowledged the Royals had to trim a payroll that projected to more than $75 million.</p><p> "We’re going to have to move some guys," he said. "We’ve got to look at it."</p><p> The trims came late Friday when pitcher John Bale, outfielder Joey Gathright, utility infielder Jason Smith and minor-league pitcher Jairo Cuevas were not offered contracts.</p><p> The decisions avoid potential arbitration cases with Bale, Gathright and Smith and trim an estimated $4-plus million in projected payroll. That puts the club roughly back on pace for its $70 million budget.</p><p> All four players become free agents.</p><p> The Royals also avoided a potential arbitration case by reaching agreement on a one-year deal with utility infielder Esteban German. Financial terms were not immediately available.</p><p> The moves came hours after the Royals designated Smith for assignment to clear space on their 40-man roster for left-handed pitcher Horacio Ramirez.</p><p> Gathright, 27, batted .254 last season in 105 games and led the club with 21 steals. His role as a backup outfielder became expendable when Mark Teahen moved into that role after the Royals acquired outfielder Coco Crisp from Boston.</p><p> Bale, 34, missed much of last season because of injuries after opening the season by losing three starts. He shifted to the bullpen upon his return in September and didn’t allow a run in nine appearances.</p><p> Smith, 31, spent the first four month of last season at Class AAA Omaha before the Royals purchased his contract on Aug. 2. He got just 28 at-bats while playing in 22 of the club’s final 51 games.</p><p> The Royals re-acquired Cuevas, 24, earlier this week from Atlanta in a waiver claim. He underwent season-ending shoulder surgery Aug. 22 and isn’t expected to be ready to pitch before July.</p><p> The moves clear space for the addition of free-agent reliever Kyle Farnsworth, who has agreed to a two-year contract for $9.25 million. The deal includes a club option for 2011 and should be announced within the next few days.</p><p> The Royals also remain interest in free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal but must find substantially more cuts to make a serious offer. Furcal figures to command a four-year deal for $40-44 million.</p><p> Club officials concede, privately, that trading outfielder José Guillen is the only reasonable way to free up sufficient payroll to pursue Furcal.</p><p> Guillen is guaranteed $12 million in each of the next two seasons.</p><p> Trading Guillen would also create a space for Teahen in the lineup. Teahen lost his job when the Royals acquired Coco Crisp from Boston, but Moore continues to dismiss trade inquiries.</p><p> "Why would we trade him?" Moore said. "We need that guy. We’re trying to win, too." The Royals found scant interest in Guillen from other clubs earlier this week at the winter meetings in Las Vegas. Club officials hope that will change once the free-agent outfield market begins to thin.</p><p> That could be too late because Furcal, according to his agent, Paul Kinzer, would prefer to make a decision in the next week. Furcal, 31, previously rejected a four-year offer from Oakland for $32 million.</p><p> Kinzer identified the Royals, A’s, Blue Jays and Dodgers as the teams most interested in Furcal, a nine-year veteran who played just 36 games last season because of a back injury.</p><p> Those close to Furcal say he would to prefer to remain in Los Angeles. The Dodgers want him back but are unwilling, at this point, to guarantee more than two years. They appear open to a vesting option for a third season.</p><p> "It is going to take some creativity on our part," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti told the <i>Los Angeles Daily News</i>. "And on their part, it is going to take a willingness to accept some creativity.</p><p> "If they aren’t willing to accept creativity, then we will move on."</p><p> Furcal has, so far, been unwilling to modify his desire for a four-year deal. That benefits the Royals, who are willing to offer four years if they can clear sufficient payroll.