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

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.