***Official 2024/2025 KC Royals Offseason Thread***

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Sources: You Reds, Royals discussing trade of Jonathan India, Brady Singer. With @ctrent: https://t.co/LdUvGQOmnB

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 16, 2024

I’m fine with trading Brady as I think he’s reached his ceiling here. Brady is who he is at this point. A solid 3 or 4 starter, who will sometimes look great and who will sometimes melt down and get lit up.

Now, all that said, I think based on this past season, he’s likely more valuable than India and it’s no secret that the Reds have a major logjam in their infield, so I think the Reds make an ideal trade partner for KC.

But instead of doing Singer straight up for India, I would ask for another name of that young infield talent. The Reds started Jeimer Candelario at 3B last year and by all accounts he is going to be their starting 3B this year. They also have 3B Noelvi Marte who they traded for. Hes their #2 overall prospect and listed as the #29 prospect in baseball, so obviously he’s not going anywhere. But there’s another Top 3B in their system, guy by the name of Cam Collier, who was a 1st round pick of theirs 3 years ago. LH hittier with raw power potential with solid defense who has some promise. There is some concern about whether he’ll stick at 3B long term, but he’s got enough raw talent it’s worth taking a shot at it. If he doesn’t stick at 3B, he’ll move to the OF (probably RF) where KC also doesn’t have a lot of prospects long term. But 3B is where he’s at for now. It’s no secret Royals have a giant black hole at 3B for near future, so I would try and put together a Singer/someone else package for India and Collier.

India has played 2B his entire career in MLB, but his last season in minors before coming up he was a 3B and I know the Royals haven’t given up on Massey yet (dude can just never stay healthy). Trade for India and he’s your leadoff guy in front off Bobby. You can start him off at 3B, but he will likely move back over to 2B when Massey inevitably gets hurt or struggles and then he’ll probably become your full time 2B going forward. Still leaves a bit of a hole at 3B, but at least you’ve got a guy in your minors who could potentially fill it a couple years down the road.

For corner OF, since Bellinger not available now (still sad about that ) I might take a chance on Tyler O’Neil. Yes, health is a real issue with him, but he’s a corner OF with 2 gold gloves in his pocket (his defensive metrics did drop off last year, but think that’s more due to health and playing in Fenway) and hits for power (30 HR guy consistently IF he stays healthy). Yes, he’s streaky and yes he will strikes out a bit, but he kind of fits the bill for what the Royals need IF he can stay healthy.

It sounds like the Royals are trying to work something out on India which would fill the lead off spot and give us a guy who can draw walks and get on base, but it will be interesting to see how they work a trade with Singer if that’s what they end up doing. I know we get down on the guy a lot (and I have been as well) but he’s a valuable trade chip.