Just under a year ago, the Royals and Reds made one of the first significant trades of the 2024-25 offseason when Kansas City acquired Jonathan India and Joey Wiemer in exchange for right-hander Brady Singer. The trade made plenty of sense at the time, as the Reds were in need of some reliability in their rotation while the Royals were desperate for offensive upgrades in the lineup. Singer fulfilled his role with the Reds for the most part, pitching to a solid 4.03 ERA in 32 starts. Things haven’t been quite so rosy on the Royals’ side of the equation, as Wiemer did not appear in an MLB game for the organization and India fell well short of expectations.
In 136 games this past year, the 28-year-old India split time between second base, third base, and left field while hitting .233/.323/.346 (89 wRC+). He was essentially a replacement level player, worth 0.4 WAR according Baseball Reference and -0.3 according to Fangraphs. That might sound surprising considering that India was within spitting distance of league average offensively and collected 567 plate appearances, but his defense was atrocious. His -14 Outs Above Average this year was in the first percentile among all qualified fielders, and he drew negative grades at every position he played. His -6 Defensive Runs Saved weren’t quite as ugly but still well below par.
Did India struggle enough that his first year in Kansas City will also be his last? He’s due to go through the arbitration process one final time in 2026, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting him for a $7.4MM salary next year. That’s a hefty chunk of change to spend on a replacement level player, especially for a Royals club that doesn’t have much money to spend this winter without first making room in the budget. While Michael Massey’s 57 wRC+ in 77 games was even more disastrous than India’s 2025 campaign, Massey is projected for a salary of just $2MM next year and is controlled through the 2028 season.
It’s undeniable that India had the better numbers of the two and looking at his advanced metrics creates an argument that he could’ve easily been an average or better hitter with a little luck. His 18.7% strikeout rate was actually the lowest of his career, and while a 9.5% walk rate was below his career norms it was still above league average. The big problems for India were that his BABIP dropped twenty points below his career norms while he managed to slug just nine home runs after being consistently good for 15 to 20 homer power during his time with the Reds.
The good news is that India’s expected numbers were stronger than his actual production, so there’s at least some reason to believe he could bounce back a bit in his age-29 season. Some of that reduction in power figures to be due to the difference between Great American Ballpark and Kauffman Stadium, however, as the Reds play at one of the friendliest stadiums in the majors for homers while the Royals undeniably have a pitcher’s park. Meanwhile, Massey’s season offers little in the way of statistical signs that better days on the way, but it’s still worth noting he was a quality player as recently as last year and his 2025 season was marred by multiple injuries, including an ankle sprain and a broken wrist. Perhaps all Massey needs to turn things around for his age-28 season is better health.
If the Royals decided to stick with both players, they’d been committing nearly $10MM to what would essentially be a second base platoon that was below replacement level in 2025. That’s a big gamble given the club’s limited resources, but there aren’t really any safe options at the club’s disposal. Non-tendering both players would leave the team with a hole and a free agent class somewhat thin on mid-tier infield talent (Willi Castro, Miguel Rojas) isn’t likely to provide a substantial upgrade, leaving them to pursue possible trade candidates like Brendan Donovan and Nolan Gorman. Non-tendering India would free up the majority of that money while still keeping Massey in house as a potential upside option, but it’s unclear if someone who would be better than India would be available at his price tag anyway. Non-tendering Massey would save a modest amount of money but, given his years of control, would only make sense if the team doesn’t believe he’ll be able to rebound. The non-tender deadline is Friday, giving the Royals just a few more days to make a decision.
How do MLBTR readers think the Royals should address second base this winter? Should they go with India, go with Massey, keep both, or send both packing in search of a new answer? Have your say in the poll below:
They should non tender both or tender Massey and pick up Luis Arraez
Royals fans who can play more positions India or Massey? because whoever can play more should be tendered imo.
Arraez isn’t a second baseman.
Arraez is a decent first baseman at this point.
He was second baseman in Minnesota and Miami
I’ll restart my comment: Luis Arraez isn’t a competent second baseman.
The Singer trade was a loss. They should just accept that and cut bait from India. They’re a pitching and defense team and wound up trading good pitching for bad defense. If Cameron didn’t come up and dominate his rookie season as a replacement starter it would’ve been an even worse trade.
The Angels need help at second and third. India for a lottery ticket makes sense for both sides.
Nothing specific to the Royals–just gotta tell you that i always look to see if you have posted–i enjoy your posts–they are fair and most importantly not aggressive–we all have our opinions, and we all dont have to always agree , but to me , there is no reason to get in another posters face with ridicule–you are most definitely not like that–much appreciated, especially being an Angels fan–still wont forgive you for for my Giants loss in 2002!!!
“The trade made plenty of sense at the time,”
But it really didn’t. The most coveted asset in MLB right now is controllable starting pitching. Singer is a top 100 SP in the game which means that he will be relied upon to throw crucial playoff innings.
We have seen several trade deadlines in a row, where starting pitching cannot be traded because the prospect capital required to move it is too substantial. So to get back nothing but a mediocre 2nd baseman, was a disappointment for Kansas City at the time, and lo and behold, has not aged well.
You can have Davis Schneider for free. That doesn’t solve your problem but it solves mine.
I think they should get rid of both of them and find someone new, or move Garcia to 2nd and find a 3rd baseman. Yes, he just won a Gold Glove at 3rd but he can win one at 2nd in 2026. Massey has been given 1300 ABs in MLB and has a 2.2 career bWAR (1.6 of that was in 2024). He has no power and struggles to get on base. He also can’t stay healthy and has played over 100 games just once in his entire career. I thought the India trade was bad when it was made and was proven correct.
Now that I’ve said all that we know what the Royals will do because it’s what they always do: Run it back and hope it turns out better (which it never does). They did it with the OF situation last year and what they’ll do with 2nd base.
India playing for a new contract. Don’t underestimate motivation.
He better get motivated real quick. He needs to put up good numbers or else he’s going to have a tough free agency next season.
Massey is worth another shot at the very least, he figured something out late last season with the bat. His defense at 2B is solid too, and not bad in LF.
Kinda want to give India another shot, first time he’s been with a different org. Doesn’t have to be the whole year. Get a good outfielder, 2B is covered well enough.
If the Royals want to get better they should trade Caglianone. He has no place to play.
I wonder who this new external addition is? Don’t know of any good bat good glove second basemen
Who are available. Donovan comes to mind,but nearly every team wants him – he will expensive.
Possibly Edman, but who do the Royal have that the Dodgers want?
Cronenworth is locked in at an affordable rate, and would fit well in KC.
This is a possibility. Certainly SD would like to lower their payroll a bit.
Rangers13 listed some names.
Not a lot of choices.
Kolek and Bergert would be my asking price, with Cronenworth and Peralta going to KC.
Rangers might swap E Duran, J. Smith, C. Freeman,or J. Foscue for controllable pitching like Kolek.
Sign Bichette for $50MM & 3 years
Sold
Get Christopher Morel to platoon with Massey.
Cronenworth is available. We’ll take Bergert and Kolek for him. I’m sure the Padres would be willing to include Peralta too if need be.
The Royals can have Louis Garcia from the Nats for any reasonable return.