Royals Announce Major Brady Singer Trade to Acquire Elite Young Infielder

The Royals made their first massive move of the offseason aside from re-signing SP Michael Wacha, officially trading fellow starter Brady Singer for a bonafide leadoff hitter.

Jonathan India is now Kansas City's top-of-the-order dependable bat, signaling a massive organizational shift based on previous general manager Dayton Moore's damaging insistence on loyalty. In one move, J.J. Picollo proved he's superior to his predecessor by eschewing loyalty in favor of improvement.

India instantly becomes one of the organization's best hitters, with a proven track record and plenty of upside. These are no longer your parents' Royals.

Royals Trade SP Brady Singer for IF Jonathan India

Losing Singer is a big blow though makes sense given the depth the Royals have in the rotation. Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Alec Marsh, Kyle Wright, Daniel Lynch, and Alec Marsh will all compete for spots.

The offense was a much larger problem. India becomes the leadoff hitter, having career batting splits of .253/.352/412 and 15 home runs last season. He's a reliable top-of-the-order hitter, something the Royals haven't had.

Singer leaves Kansas City after a season with which he posted a 9-13 record and 3.71 ERA with 170 strikeouts in 170.1 innings. His fire and competitiveness were beloved by fans, though he was the most expendable asset given the franchise's needs.

Trading for India is the exact kind of move the previous administration never would've made. It's a great decision and indicates this group is serious about competing. The previous wasn't if it meant certain players they were loyal to had to be expendable - that's simply not how legitimate teams operate.

Friday is a great day. Not only because the lineup has gained a real bat, but also because we now know that Moore's poor choices are behind us.

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