Royals could make a painful but brilliant move to build around Jac Caglianone 

From Bobby Witt Jr. to Carter Jensen, the Kansas City Royals have an excellent core of young players that should give fans hope as we look ahead to 2027 and beyond.

Another key member of that core is Jac Caglianone, who took a major step forward in his development as a ball player in 2026. He was so impressive that it would make a lot of sense for the Royals to build their future roster around him. There’s just one problem. 

While Caglianone possesses an endless amount of potential on offense, his outfield defense leaves a lot to be desired, and that’s putting it kindly. With -9 Outs Above Average, he was the worst right fielder in all of baseball with at least 700 innings played at the position.

Even with the strongest arm in the league, his lack of range makes it difficult for the Royals to justify sticking him out there over the course of a full season. There is a solution to this issue though. But it won’t be easy.     

Defensively, Caglianone projects as a better first baseman over time than as an outfielder. It feels like a waste of his arm talent, but he would simply cost the team fewer runs with the glove. However, if you glanced over to the Royals’ depth chart, you’d notice that there is a fairly large obstacle at first base in the shape of one Vinnie Pasquantino. 

As a fan favorite and a very good player overall, Pasquantino has made some substantial contributions to the Royals since making his debut in 2022. But with Caglianone eyeing a potential position change and younger players with more upside waiting in the wings, Pasquantino may not be a part of the team’s future. With several pressing needs throughout the roster heading into 2027, it may be time for the Royals to think about trading him this offseason. 

Jac Caglianone and the next wave of prospects are the future of the Royals

The Royals have already seen what Caglianone was capable of in his sophomore season. His .834 OPS was already greater than any season from Pasquantino. With a swing that projects to have a lot more upside than Pasquantino, the 23-year-old could become a staple in the middle of the Royals' batting order for the foreseeable future. Caglianone is capable of producing a 40-home run season as early as next year, which could make him an absolute nightmare for the rest of the AL Central. 

The team has also appeared to have secured another absolute stud in Carter Jensen, who hit 27 home runs and drove in 81 during his rookie season. While he is not projected to win AL Rookie of the Year, he should get a healthy amount of consideration. As the Royals' full-time catcher, Jensen will still need plenty of time as DH. With Salvador Perez still on the roster, there are only so many at-bats to go around.

Throw in a number of high-ceiling prospects in the Royals’ farm system and the team could be injected with the excitement of a new youth movement over the next few seasons. From Angeibel Gomez to Zion Rose, there is plenty of talent to go around. Blake Mitchell will also look to rapidly ascend through the minor leagues next year after his own successful 2026 season, adding another dynamic bat to the long jam of power-hitting lefties on the Royals very soon.     

With Pasquantino set to earn around $7 million in 2027, he will become one of the highest-paid players on the Royals. While not mind-numbingly expensive, that money could be better suited to patch some major holes left behind by an endless string of injuries to the pitching staff. The Royals could potentially find a suitable trade partner to make that happen. 

Teams like the Cleveland Guardians, New York Mets, and Arizona Diamondbacks may have the pitching depth to spare heading into next season. What they don’t have at the moment is a viable solution at first base at the big league level. Pasquantino’s value may never be higher than it is right now. So it would make sense for the Royals to take advantage of it.  

After a horrendous start to the 2026 season and time spent on the IL, Pasquantino was eventually able to find his swing, and his power, as the year progressed. The first baseman hit just nine home runs in 337 at-bats by the end of August. He clobbered eight home runs in September alone. It was not only a clear sign that he was finally fully healthy, but it helped boost up his value as well.

Pasquantino also made a sizable leap defensively in 2026 as well. Through his first four seasons in the big leagues, he wasn’t exactly known for his glove. He changed that narrative by playing some very solid first base this past season. It was so solid that he earned a Gold Glove nomination along with his fellow Royals infielders. That has certainly caught the attention of teams around the league. 

Despite his in-season rebound at the plate and improvement in the field, Pasquantino is likely not in the Royals’ plans for the future. He is already becoming fairly pricey for the budget-minded Royals as well. With enough offensive talent to replace him in the lineup and a player in Caglianone primed to take his position in the field, the Royals may have to rip off the Band-Aid and make a painful move this offseason. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow