Royals And Vinnie Pasquantino Agree To Two-Year Deal To Avoid Arbitration

Sources told MLB.com that on Thursday, the Kansas City Royals and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino agreed to a two-year deal worth more than $11 million guaranteed contract, avoiding the need for the two sides to head to an arbitration hearing. 

Pasquantino will have one more year of arbitration eligibility in 2028 before becoming a free agent for the 2029 season. Pasquantino’s camp filed for $4.5 million, while the Royals filed for $4 million. The deal could reach $16 million, including incentives. 

Last season, Pasquantino appeared in a career high 160 games, posting a slash line of .264/.323/.475, turning in a career high in slugging across 621 at-bats. The 28-year-old totalled a career high in hits with 164, doubles with 33, home runs with 32, and runs batted in with 113. 

All four of Pasquantino's big league seasons have been with the Royals. The former 11th-round selection in 2019 has a career average of .266 with a .330 OBP, 70 home runs, and 262 RBIs, often occupying one of the top five spots in the Royals' batting lineup. 

In 2025, Pasquantino had the highest barrel percentage of his career, coming in at 10.8%, up from the previous high of 8.8% set back in year one. Pasquantino was ranked in the 84th percentile in terms of squaring up the ball, while also being in the 84th percentile in whiff and 83rd for strikeout percentage, all strong numbers by the power-hitting first baseman. 

Pasquantino will be in action when the World Baseball Classic kicks off in early March, representing Team Italy. Pasquantino also represented Italy in 2023, when Italy was knocked out by the eventual champions Japan in the quarterfinals by a score of 9-3. In five games, Pasquantino batted .200 with a .273 OBP across 20 plate appearances. 

Pasquantino could be in line for another big season in 2026, with Kauffman Stadium moving the dimensions to make the park more hitter-friendly; the Royals’ first baseman could be set for another big year in the power department. The walls are being lowered from 10 feet to 8 feet, and the left-field corner will move in from 356 feet to 353 feet. The left-center and right-center gaps are going to be brought in from 389 feet to 379 feet, making the power alleys much more reachable. Center field remains untouched at 410 feet.