KC Royals: Who's next in line for a big extension?

The KC Royals have been active this offseason, shaking off their thrifty reputation with multiple acquisitions to make the team better. Their biggest transaction came last week when they signed Bobby Witt Jr. to a team record contract extension that has Kansas City buzzing about the Royals again. Naturally, fans are wondering what current players might be at the top of the list for the next extension?

Here are three viable candidates.

Vinnie Pasquantino: Kansas City's next big bat

If one polled the fans, Vinnie Pasquantino would likely be the runaway top choice for an extension. One of the most popular Royals, Pasquantino has a higher ceiling than anyone not named Witt. He has a solid glove at first base, but it's Pasquantino's bat that has fans most excited.

Pasquantino is a true professional hitter, something this club has lacked in recent years. He doesn't strikeout much — 11.7% for his career, compared to the major league average of 22.6% — and he walks a lot. But unlike some analytics darlings, Pasquantino isn't about empty numbers. He knows how to make contact, and when he does, he has pop. He has 19 home runs and 27 doubles with a 122 OPS+ in his short career.

Those numbers may not be eye-popping, but keep in mind he's played only 133 big league games since breaking in two seasons ago. And that's the catch with Pasquantino — he has yet to play a full major league season, and is coming off major shoulder surgery which cut short his 2023 campaign. Hopefully, Pasquantino can bounce back this year, and fans will probably be overjoyed if Kansas City locks him up right away. But the franchise can't be blamed if it takes a wait-and-see approach, at least in the short term.

If Pasquantino returns to form quickly in 2024, however, the Royals would be wise not to hesitate. He has all the makings of a leader for a winning club for years to come.

Maikel García: Extension by default?

MJ Melendez has probably flashed the most of the remaining extension candidates, but he's been inconsistent at the plate and much uncertainty surrounds his defense. In addition to being an oft-rumored trade candidate, it makes sense to wait on him, even if that means his price may ultimately go up.

The Royals could certainly lock up Michael Massey for a reasonable price, but considering they have Nick Loftin and made the somewhat puzzling decision to sign Adam Frazier, it doesn't appear they're comfortable handing Massey second base in the short term, let alone a long-range contract. Nick Pratto or Kyle Isbel also haven't proven capable enough with the bat to justify big investments. Freddy Fermin had a very good 2023, but he's a backup catcher. Most of KC's young pitchers are still in prove-it mode.

That leaves Maikel García, who took over third base last season and did a lot of good things, and he and Witt make for a top-notch defensive combo. He's a serviceable leadoff hitter capable of good on-base numbers, and has great speed once he gets on board.

The question about García is whether he has enough pop. He slugged only .358 last season with four home runs, although his speed helped him leg out 20 doubles and four triples. His are more than decent numbers for a bottom-of-the-order bat, but if he's going to man the hot corner for years to come and become a cornerstone of a successful team, he needs to improve his power.

For those looking for a reason to believe he will, he lit up the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason. While he hit just two homers in 29 games, he cracked nine doubles, slugged .576, and posted a 1.118 OPS. Yes, it's a small sample size, and the VWL is definitely not the major leagues, but if general manager J.J. Picollo and principal owner John Sherman feel like rolling the dice, maybe that's enough for them to take notice.

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