The Reds and Royals are discussing a commerce that may ship second baseman Jonathan India to Kansas Metropolis in change for right-hander Brady Singer, based on a report from C. Trent Rosencrans and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Rosenthal provides {that a} deal between the edges is just not thought of shut and that India is certainly one of “a number of” hitters the Royals are taking a look at as they think about dealing from their rotation depth.
India, 28 subsequent month, is coming off one thing of a rebound marketing campaign in 2024. After averaging simply 111 video games per season in every of the previous two years with under common offensive numbers whereas coping with hamstring points and a bout of plantar fasciitis in his left foot, he posted his greatest season since successful the 2021 NL Rookie of the Yr award this previous yr. In 637 journeys to the plate throughout 151 video games this yr, India slashed a decent .248/.357/.392 (108 wRC+) whereas slugging 15 homers and stealing 13 bases. He additionally struck out simply 19.6% of the time whereas strolling at a 12.6% clip, making him certainly one of simply three gamers (alongside Freddie Freeman and Juan Soto) to strike out in lower than 20% of his plate appearances with a stroll price of a minimum of 12%.
That spectacular self-discipline on the plate makes India a invaluable asset whilst his energy and pace numbers fall in need of 20/20 potential. Simply 5 certified second basemen posted higher offensive seasons by measure of wRC+ than India did final yr, and his 2.8 fWAR ranks seventh on the place. On the floor, shedding that manufacturing would appear to be debilitating for a Reds offense that was bottom-five in baseball by measure of wRC+ in 2024. With that being stated, it’s value noting that India appeared more likely to enter 2024 with out a clear place to name residence till 2023 Rookie of the Yr finalist Matt McLain missed the complete 2024 marketing campaign attributable to shoulder surgical procedure and high prospect Noelvi Marte missed the primary half of the season attributable to an 80-game PED suspension.
Marte struggled badly (31% strikeout price, 46 wRC+) in 66 video games with the Reds this yr after getting back from his suspension, however McLain proved to be a dynamic offensive power for the membership in his 89-game rookie marketing campaign again in 2023. Then simply 23 years previous, the teen slashed a wonderful .290/.357/.507 (127 wRC+) with 16 homers and 14 steals in simply 403 plate appearances. If he can produce something near that stage of offensive firepower over a full season in 2025, that may greater than make up for the lack of India’s bat from the lineup. It’s doable the membership may discover a technique to maintain each second basemen within the lineup—McLain has gotten a handful of reps at third base and in middle subject throughout his latest stint in Arizona Fall League— however with TJ Friedl only one season faraway from a 3.9-win marketing campaign in middle and the Reds unlikely to surrender on Marte after lower than half a season within the majors, it may make sense for the membership to money in on India now.
One smart means for the membership to do this could be concentrating on a top quality rotation arm like Singer. Each Singer and India are beneath management by means of the top of the 2026 season, making the swap a reasonably clear one from a staff management perspective. India is assured a $5MM wage for 2025 and is arbitration eligible for 2026, whereas MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz initiatives Singer for an $8.8MM wage in his penultimate journey by means of arbitration this winter. That slight internet improve in wage dedication probably wouldn’t be an issue for a Reds membership that plans to run a payroll “at or above” 2024 ranges subsequent yr, giving them some respiration room financially for subsequent season.
In Singer, the Reds would obtain a top quality mid-rotation arm to pair with Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo behind employees ace Hunter Greene. The 28-year-old righty pitched to a stable 3.71 ERA (114 ERA+) with a 3.94 FIP in 179 2/3 innings of labor throughout 32 begins final yr. That’s a serious step ahead from a disastrous 2023 season that noticed him put up a 5.52 ERA in 159 2/3 frames, however not fairly on the stage of his 153 1/3 innings of three.23 ERA ball the yr prior. Total, Singer has pitched to a 4.15 ERA (103 ERA+) with a 3.94 FIP during the last three seasons, which units up a stable ground for the right-hander wanting ahead even when he doesn’t return to the extent of manufacturing he flashed in 2022.
With Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans, and Michael Wacha all locked into the membership’s rotation for 2025, it makes loads of sense for the Royals to discover trades from their crop of back-end arms that features not solely Singer but additionally Kyle Wright, Alec Marsh, and Kris Bubic. These latter two names have already discovered themselves within the rumor mill this winter, and Rosenthal’s report confirms the Royals are nonetheless “entertaining” the potential for transferring both Marsh or Bubic as an alternative of Singer, although he provides that Lugo, Ragans, and Wacha are all understood to be “basically off-limits.” With that being stated, he notes that groups enthusiastic about contending instantly choose Singer to each Marsh and Bubic and the Royals would probably must accept a youthful, much less established hitter in the event that they have been to deal both of their lesser arms.
Bringing India could be a considerably difficult match for the Royals, nevertheless, as it might probably displace incumbent second baseman Michael Massey. Massey loved the perfect season of his profession in 2024, slashing .259/.294/.449 with 14 homers and a 102 wRC+ in 356 journeys to the plate whereas taking part in round again points early within the season. Each Massey and India have performed second base virtually solely of their careers thus far, although Massey has one look on the scorching nook and the Reds toyed with the concept of taking part in India at first base or in left subject final yr earlier than shedding McLain for the season. It’s actually possible to think about the Royals discovering applicable taking part in time for each gamers by using the DH on days the place Salvador Perez is catching, particularly if India may also combine into the outfield every now and then.
