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 perimeters just isn’t thought-about 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 beneath common offensive numbers whereas coping with hamstring points and a bout of plantar fasciitis in his left foot, he posted his finest season since successful the 2021 NL Rookie of the Yr award this previous 12 months. In 637 journeys to the plate throughout 151 video games this 12 months, 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 fee of not less than 12%.
That spectacular self-discipline on the plate makes India a invaluable asset at the same time as 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 12 months, and his 2.8 fWAR ranks seventh on the place. On the floor, dropping 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 mentioned, it’s value noting that India appeared more likely to enter 2024 and not using a clear place to name house till 2023 Rookie of the Yr finalist Matt McLain missed all the 2024 marketing campaign attributable to shoulder surgical procedure and prime prospect Noelvi Marte missed the primary half of the season attributable to an 80-game PED suspension.
Marte struggled badly (31% strikeout fee, 46 wRC+) in 66 video games with the Reds this 12 months 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 Then simply 23 years outdated, the teenager slashed a superb .290/.357/.507 (127 wRC+) with 16 homers and 14 steals in simply 403 plate appearances. If he can produce something near that degree 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 attainable the membership might discover a technique to preserve each second basemen within the lineup—McLain has gotten a handful of reps at third base and in heart discipline throughout his latest stint in Arizona Fall League— however with TJ Friedl only one season faraway from a 3.9-win marketing campaign in heart and the Reds unlikely to surrender on Marte after lower than half a season within the majors, it might make sense for the membership to money in on India now.
One smart method for the membership to do this can be focusing on a top quality rotation arm like Singer. Each Singer and India are beneath management via the top of the 2026 season, making the swap a reasonably clear one from a group 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 via arbitration this winter. That slight web improve in wage dedication doubtless wouldn’t be an issue for a Reds membership that plans to run a payroll “at or above” 2024 ranges subsequent 12 months, giving them some respiratory 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 workers 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 12 months. That’s a significant step ahead from a disastrous 2023 season that noticed him submit a 5.52 ERA in 159 2/3 frames, however not fairly on the degree of his 153 1/3 innings of three.23 ERA ball the 12 months 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 mentioned, he notes that groups desirous about contending instantly choose Singer to each Marsh and Bubic and the Royals would doubtless need to accept a youthful, much less established hitter in the event that they have been to deal both of their lesser arms.
Bringing India can be a considerably difficult match for the Royals, nevertheless, as it will doubtless displace incumbent second baseman Michael Massey. Massey loved the very best 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 nearly completely of their careers so 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 discipline final 12 months earlier than dropping 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 can even combine into the outfield once in a while.
