The Kansas Metropolis Royals possess indubitably been active in making definite this roster enters the 2026 season in a greater build than after they ended the 2025 campaign.
They’ve bolstered their outfield mix with the additions of Isaac Collins and Lane Thomas, their bullpen has considered upgrades like Matt Strahm and Nick Mears arrangement by technique of the door and in divulge that they’ve secured their future (both conclude to and extended) with a pair of not easy-earned extension to both Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia.
Alternatively, as productive as they’ve reputedly been, there’s quiet some holes to be poked of their wintry weather business. It could maybe perchance furthermore very well be that it be lacked an outright splash (notably offensively) or even it be been a sequence of puzzling strikes made.
And arguably no plug became yet again puzzling this offseason than their determination to bring help Jonathan India on an $8 million contract.
This came about sooner than the non-soft closing date in November when India, after a occupation-worst 89 wRC+ in his first year with the Royals, regarded like a title that became once primed to be on his arrangement out. And primarily based on Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, it took different league executives without warning to clutch the Royals had been bringing him help.
And these different league executives are delicate to be skeptical of why the Royals made one of these determination, as months possess passed by and no exact additions had been made to in truth bolster their standing on the build.
Even even supposing $8 million isn’t very exactly breaking the bank, this is in a position to maybe perchance totally be primarily the most dear determination the Royals possess made this wintry weather.
3 causes why Royals’ determination to hang onto Jonathan India could maybe perchance furthermore very well be their most dear one
India’s offensive profile has no definite build in this lineup
Let’s originate with offense, which has been the definite subject of conversation surrounding the Royals’ offseason in current.
Final season, India became once introduced in to be to be valuable wished power on the leadoff build, but sadly that never got right here to fruition.
In 104 video games on the leadoff build, India easiest slashed .236/.321/.336 with an 85 wRC+, which resulted in his leisurely season drop against the bottom half of the notify.
And different than a 113 wRC+ in 19 video games within the seven hole, India became once a below realistic hitter in all locations else he hit.
Perchance the seven hole could maybe perchance furthermore be the space for him transferring forward in 2026, but correct 19 video games of “success” there final season isn’t very the finest pattern dimension to bank on and different than solid plate self-discipline, his underlying metrics own not exactly bawl of a hitter that will maybe perchance well look overly happy wherever within the lineup as a mountainous league starter.
India has no exact versatility beyond 2nd…and he isn’t very mountainous at 2nd to originate with
Inserting the lineup aside, from a positional standpoint, the Royals attempted the complete multi-build mission with India final season, taking half in him at third nasty and left self-discipline early on.
Alternatively, with a -2 DRS, -4 OAA and -3 FRV at third nasty and -2 DRS, -3 OAA and -2 FRV in left self-discipline, it became once definite India had no exact future at either space and the mission became once abandoned reasonably at this time.
But sadly for both him and Kansas Metropolis, India didn’t in truth look any longer happy at his main 2nd nasty space either, sporting a -2 DRS, -6 OAA and -4 FRV.
India could maybe perchance furthermore not even be the Royals’ easiest 2nd baseman
Lastly, sticking at 2nd nasty, if this wasn’t an anomaly and is in actuality the India Royals followers are going to gape all once more in 2026, then there’s motive to think that maybe he isn’t very even their easiest likelihood at 2nd nasty.
Don’t fetch me injurious, with their $8 million commitment – as in contrast to the $1.57 million commitment they made to India’s fellow 2nd nasty partner Michael Massey this wintry weather – he’ll all but most likely fetch the nod as their starting up 2nd baseman from the fetch-plug all once more.
And despite his uncomfortable stats, India’s 89 wRC+, while below-realistic, cleared Massey’s 57 wRC+ by a mile final year. Alternatively, Massey’s corpulent season stats own not whine your total memoir.
After getting back from a lengthy stint on the injured list in leisurely August, Massey regarded like one of the Royals’ easiest hitters within the lineup.
In his 68 plate appearances after returning on August 25, Massey slashed .375/.412/.484 with a 151 wRC+. It is a diminutive pattern dimension, but it does add an aspect of doubt to India being the finest likelihood at 2nd, notably while you pair it with Massey’s above realistic 104 wRC+ in 2024, solid postseason that year and his defensive superiority on the space moreover.
