The Kansas City Royals have decided not to tender a contract to 27-year old lefty swinging outfielder Joey Gathright making him a free agent. He was caught in a numbers game in K.C. but he was quickly snapped up by the Cubs. He played in 105 games for the Royals last year and he was 71 for 279 (.254 avg, .583 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 0 homers, 22 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. Gathright has now played in 408 games in his major league career and he is 301 for 1,145 (.263 avg, .632 OPS) with 168 runs scored, 1 homer, 96 RBIs and 78 stolen bases.

The Royals have designated 31-year old lefty swinging infielder Jason Smith for assignment. Smith played in 22 games for the Royals last season and he was 6 for 28 (.214 avg, .500 OPS) with 6 runs scored and 1 RBI. He has now played in 257 games in his major league career and he is 122 for 551 (.221 avg, .636 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 17 homers and 59 RBIs. Smith won’t be missed by the Royals.

The Royals have acquired 24-year old righty swinging outfielder Jordan Parraz from the Astros to complete the Tyler Lumsden trade. Parraz was the Astros’ #18 prospect coming into the 2008 season according to Baseball America. Parraz played in 114 games in A-ball last year and he was 123 for 425 (.289 avg, .818 OPS) with 82 runs score, 6 homers, 42 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. This might turn out to be a trade that will be good for both teams down the road.

The Royals have signed 27-year old righty reliever Doug Waechter to a 1-year, $640,000 dollar deal. Waechter pitched in 48 games (0 starts) for the Marlins last season and he was 4-2 with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He has now pitched in 108 games (54 starts) in his major league career and he is 18-27 with 1 save, a 5.30 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Waechter will look to build on his solid 2008 season with the Marlins and the Royals are hoping he can. This was a good low risk gamble for the Royals.

The Royals have signed 32-year old fireballing righty reliever Kyle Farnsworth to a 2-year, $9.25 million dollar contract. He pitched in 61 games (0 starts) for the Tigers and Yankees lat season in which he was 2-3 with 1 save, a 4.48 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Farnsworth has now pitched in 612 games (26 starts) in his major league career and he is 30-48 with 27 saves, a 4.47 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Farnsworth has whiffed 738 batters in 735 career major league innings showing what kind of stuff he has. The Royals will be banking on him pitching late in games setting up Joakim Soria.