Royals trade Santana to Mariners, call up Pasquantino

Carlos Santana is headed to Seattle. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Royals trade Carlos Santana to Mariners, call up top prospect Vinnie Pasquantino

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 6/27/22

The Kansas City Royals are continuing their youth movement and beginning what could be a busy summer of trading.

We have acquired RHPs Wyatt Mills and William Fleming from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for INF Carlos Santana and cash considerations.

Mills has been added to the 40-man roster and will be optioned to Omaha (AAA), Fleming will be assigned to Quad Cities (High A).
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 27, 2022

We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/pzuTF9LpTX
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 27, 2022

Santana was in his second season with the Royals and is currently sporting a .216/.349/.341 slash line with four home runs and 21 RBI over 176 at-bats covering 52 games. Mills is in his second MLB season and has registered a 4.15 ERA and 0.92 WHIP over eight games and 8 2/3 innings pitched.

A 2021 11th-round pick of the Mariners, Fleming has gone 6-6 with a 4.92 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 14 starts in Single-A.

Pasquantino would figure to slide directly into Santana's position at first base and form an intriguing corner-infield combination with dynamic rookie Bobby Witt Jr., who has played 30 games at third base and 42 at shortstop. Two-time All-Star Whit Merrifield, who splits time between the infield and outfield, turned 33 in the offseason and has been involved in rampant trade rumors.

The 24-year-old Pasquantino is the No. 3 prospect in the Royals' system. He has lit up Triple-A pitching this season to the tune of 18 home runs, 67 RBI and a .280/.372/.576 slash line.

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