By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Royals announced Monday that they have acquired right-handed pitchers Wyatt Mills and William Fleming from Seattle for first baseman Carlos Santana and cash considerations.
Mills, who is on the 40-man roster, will be optioned to Triple-A Omaha. Fleming will be assigned to High-A Quad Cities.
Additionally, first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino has been selected from Triple-A Omaha. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Ronald Bolaños has been designated for assignment.
The 27-year-old Mills made his Major League debut with 11 appearances in relief for Seattle last season. He’s made eight appearances with the Mariners this season, posting a 4.15 ERA and .179 opponents’ average.
The 23-year-old Fleming was selected by Seattle in the 11th round in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of Wake Forest.
He made his professional debut last season and went 4-1 with a 3.27 ERA with 27 strikeouts and only four walks in nine appearances between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Modesto. In 14 starts this season with Low-A Modesto, he’s 6-6 with a 4.92 ERA, but he’s allowed just two earned runs or fewer in 10 of his 14 starts.
Santana signed a two-year contract with Kansas City before the 2021 season. He hit 19 home runs in 158 games with the Royals last year and has four HR in 52 games with the Royals this season, with 36 walks and 28 strikeouts. In 17 games this month, he’s hit .357 with 11 RBI, and his .478 on-base percentage in June ranks second in the Majors.
Pasquantino hit .280 with Triple-A Omaha, recording 18 home runs. He has 67 RBIs in 69 games, which rank 2nd among all professional players.
Pasquantino was selected by Kansas City in the 11th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Old Dominion.