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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div> Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (9) hits the ball in the bottom of the eighth inning during an MLB game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Kauffman Stadium.<\/p>\n ecuriel@kcstar.com<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n <\/p>\n AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n After the Brewers won their salary arbitration case with pitcher Corbin Burnes in 2023, he told reporters the process was \u201ctough to hear, tough to take<\/a>\u201d because of what the team said about him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Burnes\u2019 salary was set at $10.01 million, $740,000 less than he was asking. But the lost money seemed easier to take than the comments made about Burnes, who won a Cy Young Award in 2021.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhen some of the things that are said \u2014 for instance, they basically put me in the forefront of the reason why we didn\u2019t make the postseason last year,\u201d said Burnes, who was coming off a season in which he had a 2.94 ERA. \u201cThat\u2019s something that probably doesn\u2019t need to be said.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After the 2023 season, Burnes was traded to the Baltimore Orioles after making the All-Star Game for the third straight year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What is said in arbitration hearings is unknown because they are held behind close doors every February. After the teams exchange salary figures, a hearing is held before a panel of arbitrators. They decide which salary figure to give a player based on what they\u2019ve heard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One such case this year involves Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. He\u2019s asking for $32 million this season, while Detroit offered $19 million. That\u2019s a hefty difference.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not so, however, in the case involving Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. He asked for $4.5 million<\/a>, while the Royals offered $4 million, according to MLB.com.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For most people, a half-million dollars is a lot of money. But the Royals had a $126 million payroll last year, so it seems like they could come up with $500,000 to avoid upsetting Pasquantino.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals likely want the lower amount because Pasquantino is arbitration eligible for two more seasons. The less they pay now, the less they\u2019ll pay in the future, too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But a recent comment from Pasquantino shows he\u2019s aware of what goes on in the arbitration hearing. And there is no reason to upset him over what amounts to less than 0.4% of the Royals\u2019 payroll.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Earlier this month, Pasquantino wrote about the Royals moving in the fences<\/a> at Kauffman Stadium in an X post and included a seemingly throwaway line about salary arbitration hearings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very curious how this is going to play out in multiple ways,\u201d he wrote. \u201cAnd honestly mostly from a data perspective (this hits close to home because I\u2019m about to go into a room and hear how awful I am<\/a>).\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pasquantino later deleted the post, likely because fans noted his expectation about the awful things the Royals could theoretically say about him. The Royals and Pasquantino can still agree on a contract and skip arbitration.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The 2025 season was Pasquantino\u2019s best with the Royals. He had 32 home runs, 33 doubles, 113 RBIs, a 120 OPS+ and played in 160 games.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n New Mets infielder Bo Bichette spoke out about arbitration a few years ago when he was with the Blue Jays.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cArbitration is an incredibly flawed process, one that isn\u2019t very good for the game<\/a>,\u201d Bichette told reporters in 2023, per Sportsnet. \u201cThere\u2019s no reason to pit owners and executives against players. Just no reason.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Another video, of former Reds star Sean Casey talking about his arbitration hearing, is both enlightening and hilarious.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n Emily Curiel
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