As the calendar flips to December, the MLB offseason is shifting into high gear. The Winter Meetings are just days away, and the stove is heating up fast.
While some teams are still surveying the landscape, the Kansas City Royals have already been active-making a handful of depth moves and keeping their name in the rumor mill. And if the weekend headlines are any indication, the Royals could be cooking up something bigger.
Let’s break down the latest developments that Royals fans should have on their radar.
Vinnie Pasquantino and Brendan Donovan Share BP Session, Fueling Trade Chatter
One of the more intriguing names linked to Kansas City this offseason is Brendan Donovan, the versatile utility man from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Donovan’s name has surfaced in trade speculation for weeks now, and there’s a good reason for it. The Cardinals are reportedly looking to bolster their rotation with major league-ready arms, while the Royals are in the market for upgrades at second base and in the corner outfield.
On paper, it’s a trade fit that checks all the boxes.
Over the weekend, that speculation got a little more juice-thanks to none other than Vinnie Pasquantino.
The Royals' fan-favorite first baseman posted an Instagram story showing him taking batting practice with Donovan. The caption?
“Look who made it.” It was a casual post, but in the world of offseason rumors, even a shared workout can be enough to spark a frenzy.
Now, let’s be clear-this doesn’t confirm anything. Big leaguers train together all the time in the offseason.
But when a player who’s been heavily linked to Kansas City is spotted working out with one of the team’s core pieces, people are going to talk. Whether it’s foreshadowing or just a couple of friends getting their swings in, it adds another layer to an already interesting storyline.
Royals Emerging as Favorites for Top International Prospect Jaider Suarez
While the focus for many fans is on the big-league roster, the Royals are also making moves behind the scenes that could shape their future. According to insider Francys Romero, Kansas City is currently viewed as the frontrunner to sign 16-year-old Cuban shortstop Jaider Suarez when the international signing period opens on January 15, 2026.
The projected price tag? Around $1.7 million.
That’s a significant investment, especially considering the Royals had just over $6.9 million in international signing pool money last year. But when you’re in the mix for a top-20 international talent, sometimes it’s worth allocating a big chunk of your budget.
Suarez is ranked No. 16 in the 2026 international class by MLB Pipeline, and scouts are high on his tools across the board. He’s graded with 55s for his hit, power, and run tools, and a 60 for his arm-impressive marks for a player his age. Evaluators also like the way he keeps his head steady at the point of contact, which helps him generate consistent, loud contact from the right side of the plate.
Pipeline describes him as having “the physical look of a potential impact talent,” and that’s not the kind of phrase scouts throw around lightly.
If the Royals do land Suarez, it would be a statement move-one that signals a continued commitment to building from the ground up, even as they look to improve the present-day roster.
What It All Means
The Royals are clearly not sitting idle this winter. Between trade rumors involving big-league-ready talent like Donovan and aggressive pursuit of high-upside international prospects like Suarez, Kansas City is attacking the offseason on multiple fronts.
They’ve already made some under-the-radar moves to bolster depth, but if these rumors pan out, the next wave of news could be a lot more impactful. Whether it’s a trade that helps the team now or a signing that could pay dividends down the line, the Royals are positioning themselves to be one of the more interesting teams to watch as the Winter Meetings approach.
Stay tuned-this offseason might just be getting started in Kansas City.