Royals, Pasquantino ink deal, avoid two years of arbitration
The slugger is locked in through at least the 2027 season as a key cog in the middle of Kansas City's lineup.
It may not be the long-term contract some Royals fans were hoping for, but Vinnie Pasquantino, 28, is locked in to be a staple in Kansas City’s lineup through the 2027 season.
The first base slugger will have one more year of arbitration at the end of this deal, which would hypothetically be 31 through the end of that 2028 season before reaching free agency.
The deal, worth more than $11 million guaranteed, made sense for both sides. Pasquantino has made himself a key cog in the middle Royals’ lineup and is coming off a breakthrough season.
“Like any of those extensions that are really capturing arb years, there’s a give and take on both sides,” general manager J.J. Picollo told reporters. “There’s an equal risk taken on both sides. And once we got to a point where we both understood, or maybe where each party’s boundaries were, is when we were able to come to a deal.”
It was also his first fully healthy season, which led to being 10th in the American League in homers, with 32. Kauffman Stadium, a notorious pitcher-friendly park, did not hamper Pasquantino’s slugging ability. He also finished with 113 RBIs and a .798 OPS.
The deal can max out at $15.7 million with incentives, such as escalators for plate appearances and end-of-season accomplishments. Pasquantino could be in line for another breakout season, with confirmation coming that the Royals are moving the walls in a bit at Kauffman Stadium.
While the deal does not guarantee Pasquintino’s spot on the roster beyond his arbitration years, it does allow him not have to go through the mediation process that both players and teams are not fond of.
“I’m happy to be here,” Pasquantino told reporters. “I’m glad we got that done. They didn’t have to do that. And I think the negotiations went pretty well … I think both sides are taking on some risk, I think both sides understand the value there, and I’m happy we got it done, and we don’t have to talk about it for two years.”
The 28-year-old is set to make $4.2 million in 2026 after not coming to an agreement ahead of the Jan. 8 deadline, when the team filed for $4 million. Pasquantino had filed for $4.5 million, and the two sides were headed to a hearing in February had they not come to a deal.
The deal offers greater upside and more stability heading into the 2027 season. It also gives the Kansas City front office a firmer budget for the next two seasons.
“ … The nice thing about this is, for the first time in my career, I don’t have to go into this year worrying about next year,” Pasquantino told reporters. “And there’s a lot of peace in mind in that.”
Another aspect that this offers Pasquantino is his ability to represent Italy in the World Baseball Classic next month without contract instability hanging over his head.
The fan favorite will lead Italy, along with his highly-touted teammate, Jac Caglianone. Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola, along with New York Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino, will lead the pitching staff.
Following his rookie season with the Royals, Pasquino took 20 at-bats, tallying four hits for Italy in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.