Royals trade pitcher Brady Singer to Reds for infielder Jonathan India, outfielder Joey Wiemer

Jaylon Thompson, The Kansas City Star on Nov 22, 2024

Published in Baseball

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have added more firepower to their lineup.

On Friday, they traded right-handed pitcher Brady Singer to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for infielder Jonathan India and outfielder Joey Wiemer.

India figures to be the club’s leadoff hitter in 2025. He has a career .360 on-base percentage in the role.

“We were looking for a leadoff hitter and Jonathan India was someone that we identified, even going back even into the middle of the season, as someone that could be a potential trade target for us this offseason,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said.

While India and Wiemer are now listed on the Royals’ 40-man roster, the team bids farewell to Singer.

Singer, 28, posted a 3.71 ERA in 32 starts during the 2024 season. It was a resurgent campaign as Singer made strides under Royals pitching coaches Brian Sweeney and Zach Bove. He added two new pitches and remained healthy throughout the year.

Singer pitched a career-high 179 2/3 innings, striking out 170 as KC’s No. 3 starter. But the Royals had a surplus of starting pitching, and he became expendable.

All-Stars Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo return in 2025 to headline the rotation. Veteran right-hander Michael Wacha re-signed this offseason and injured pitcher Kyle Wright is nearing a return from shoulder surgery.

Other capable starters and potential pieces in the Royals’ organization include Daniel Lynch IV, Kris Bubic Alec Marsh and prospect Noah Cameron. Lynch and Bubic operated as relievers down the stretch last season, but the Royals still view them as possible candidates for starting roles.

That depth of pitching led other teams to inquire about Singer. The Royals, who drafted Singer in 2018, needed a leadoff hitter and the Reds were open to making a deal.

India, 27, is a former National League Rookie of the Year (2021). He has a career .764 OPS (on-base plus slugging) and this season recorded 15 home runs, 58 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

“When you are looking for a very specific niche thing, you don’t have a long list of players that you can turn to that have a track record like Jonathan (India),” Picollo said. “So, in this case with Cincinnati, they had interest in starting pitching. …

“We feel good about the guys who are clearly established in our rotation, and I’ll say it’s a risk worth taking knowing how fragile starting pitching can be. But we do think we have plenty of (pitching) options and the offseason is not over.”

India, who is primarily a second baseman, can play across the infield. Last spring training he also worked in the outfield. Incumbent KC second baseman Michael Massey and third baseman Maikel Garcia could each play left field, if needed, as well.

The Royals plan to figure out their final defensive positions in the spring. For now, the club is excited to add India as a key cog atop the lineup.

“This was all about acquiring a leadoff hitter and, knowing the athletic ability that he has, the athletic ability that Michael Massey has and Maikel Garcia has, this was about lengthening our lineup and putting somebody at the top,” Picollo said. “Knowing the type of teammates those guys are, all of them, we’re not very concerned about the defensive fit. It’s something we have to talk through this offseason and come up with a plan for spring training.”

India and Singer were teammates at the University of Florida. India played a career-high 151 games and logged 45 extra-base hits in 2024. He also tallied 80 walks, fifth most in Major League Baseball.

The Royals will hope for similar production next season.

Wiemer, too, is an intriguing player with a few options remaining. He’ll likely be battling for a reserve outfield spot with the Royals.

Wiemer, 25, spent time with both the Reds and Milwaukee Brewers this past season. He has 13 home runs and 42 RBIs in 153 career games.

“We know who nine or 10 of our guys are but the last two to three guys are still to be determined,” Picollo said. “Last year, Garrett Hampson filled that role for us and now we have somebody that is young and has options and maybe has the ability to step in and do that for us.”

The Royals have now addressed two of their biggest needs this offseason. Still on their to-do list is bringing aboard someone with power and the ability to help protect Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez in the batting order.

“I think we still have to be on the lookout for something that continues to lengthen our lineup out,” Picollo said. “If we are able to get something that helps out the middle of our lineup, we will be really happy. …

“I think if anything comes about, it’s probably going to be a different type of deal than what we were looking at in this deal.”