Why the Royals Are About to Trade Their 2024 Playoff Hero While His Value Fades

The Kansas City Royals spent the first half of the season digging a hole they probably can’t climb out of. Sitting at the bottom of the AL Central, they’re facing a reality where selling at the August 3 trade deadline isn’t just smart. It’s necessary. And the biggest name they’ll likely move is Vinnie Pasquantino, the guy who was their offensive engine just one year ago.

Pasquantino was a star during Kansas City’s 2024 playoff run, driving in 97 runs that season. He followed that up with a monster 2025 campaign: 32 home runs, 113 RBIs, and a .500 team that looked like it was building something real. But this year is different. The Royals are bad, and Pasquantino has been worse. In 70 games he’s hitting .222 with a .653 OPS and only six homers.

Trading him now means selling low. That’s the risk. But at 28 years old with only two years of team control left, the clock is ticking. There’s no guarantee he ever hits 30 homers again. The Royals need to get something back while they still can.

Where Does Pasquantino Fit?

The problem is that a lot of Wild Card contenders already have solid first basemen and DH types. Plus, Pasquantino is a below-average defender. He’s logged -1 Outs Above Average at first base this season, so nobody is trading for his glove. And the bat has been cold for months.

Still, the sheer lack of sellers might work in Kansas City’s favor. The Pittsburgh Pirates are one of the usual deadline sellers who actually find themselves in the Wild Card mix this year. Marcell Ozuna has been awful at DH, and Spencer Horwitz is hurt at first base. If Pittsburgh keeps looking for bats after grabbing a reliever, Pasquantino could be a natural fit.

The Royals wouldn’t have trouble replacing him. Jac Caglianone is 23, already has pro experience at first base, and is a power-first left-handed bat who could slot right into the lineup. Moving him to the infield full time might even help the defense overall. Lane Thomas and Tyler Tolbert are outfield depth pieces who could also fill gaps.

This isn’t a fun move for a team with Bobby Witt Jr. on the roster. But the AL Central is gone. The Wild Card is slipping away. And for the Royals, the smartest play this summer is to sell hard and stock up for the next run. Pasquantino’s the piece that makes that happen.