Reds take another victory lap while Royals keep buying into a failing experiment

It's been a long and precipitous fall from grace for Jonathan India ever since he won the 2021 NL Rookie of the Year Award. Once seen as a key piece of the Cincinnati Reds' future, following his brilliant MLB debut, India struggles, accruing just 2.7 bWAR and 4.7 fWAR from 2022-24. He stalled out offensively and his defensive versatility was always more impressive on paper than it was in practice.

Eventually, the Reds had enough of the early-bloomer and sent him to the Kansas City Royals last offseason for starting pitcher Brady Singer. By most accounts, the utility man then had the worst season of his career, posting an 89 wRC+ while accruing -0.3 fWAR.

That put India on the non-tender doorstep, though the Royals apparently never learned about the sunk cost fallacy. They've re-signed the 28-year-old to a one-year deal to avoid arbitration, giving him one last chance to rediscover his Rookie of the Year form before hitting free agency.

Reds remain clear winners of Jonathan India-Brady Singer trade

India really struggled away from the comforts of Great American Ball Park in 2025, hitting just .233/.323/.346 while posting career-worst totals in home runs (9), stolen bases (0), wRC+ (89), ISO (.113) and fWAR (-0.3).

His defense was also a mess; splitting his time between second base, left field, and third base, India racked up -13 outs bbove average (OAA) and -6 defensive runs saved (DRS). It's somewhat surprising to see Kansas City invest $8 million into his declining stock, but they may be desperate to get any positive contributions for him after willingly giving up a star for his services.

Singer, on the other hand, flourished during his first season in Cincinnati, compiling a 4.03 FIP and 3.98 FIP in 169 2/3 innings. His 2.9 fWAR tied with Hunter Greene for second-most in the rotation (behind only Andrew Abbott), and he's a clear playoff-caliber starter, even when everyone is healthy.

That was merely the continuation of an impressive trend for the right-hander. One of the most durable starters in the sport -- he's made at least 24 starts in every season since 2021 -- Singer has been quietly excellent in three of the past four seasons, registering an FIP below 4.00 in 2022, 2023, and 2025.

Like India, Singer has just one year of team control remaining via arbitration, and he's expected to be more expensive than the second baseman (most estimates have his salary clocking in around $10-12 million for 2026). Still, he's an invaluable piece of the Reds' rotation, and one who could stick around for quite a while longer if ownership decides to pay up for an extension.