Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino Gets $11 Million Contract Update

The slugger reaches a compromise with the team on a two-year deal.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 6:39pm

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The Kansas City Royals and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino have agreed to a two-year contract that will pay the 28-year-old more than $11 million guaranteed and up to $16 million with incentives, avoiding salary arbitration for the next two seasons.

Why it matters

Pasquantino is a rising star for the Royals, coming off a breakout 2025 season where he hit 32 home runs and drove in 113 RBIs. Securing him on a multi-year deal provides stability for the team's lineup and avoids a potentially contentious arbitration process.

The details

Pasquantino made it clear on social media earlier this offseason that he wasn't looking forward to the salary arbitration process. The two-year deal reached on Friday will pay him more than $11 million guaranteed, with the potential to earn up to $16 million with incentives. Pasquantino was originally an 11th-round pick by the Royals in the 2019 draft out of Old Dominion.

  • Pasquantino just had his best MLB season in 2025, playing 160 games, hitting 33 doubles, slugging 32 homers, driving in 113 RBI and batting .264 with a .798 OPS.
  • The Royals have also moved the fences in 10 feet this season, which could lead to even more home runs for Pasquantino.

The players

Vinnie Pasquantino

A 28-year-old first baseman for the Kansas City Royals who is coming off a breakout 2025 season.

Kansas City Royals

The MLB team that Vinnie Pasquantino plays for, based in Kansas City, Missouri.

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What’s next

The two-year contract will keep Pasquantino with the Royals through the 2027 season, providing stability and security for the young slugger as he continues to develop.

The takeaway

Securing Pasquantino on a multi-year deal is a win-win for both the player and the Royals organization. It avoids a potentially contentious arbitration process and keeps one of the team's rising stars in the fold for the foreseeable future.