Are Royals looking to swap a pitcher for a hitter?

This story was excerpted from Anne Rogers' Royals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals have been clear that their priority this offseason is centered around upgrading their offense, specifically by adding more on-base ability to the lineup through a potential leadoff hitter or an impact bat in the middle of the order.

It’s becoming more clear that the way the Royals would like to do that is through a trade.

According to sources, the Royals have cast a wide net in their search for hitters, and their discussions with several teams have ramped up in the past week. Over the weekend, The Athletic reported that the Royals and Reds have discussed a swap of righty Brady Singer and infielder Jonathan India.

A source confirmed those talks with MLB.com, although they cautioned that the teams weren’t close to a deal and that discussions were happening with multiple teams. Two other players the Royals have checked in on are Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm and Angels outfielder Taylor Ward, according to sources, but nothing has progressed deeply yet.

Finding a hitter through free agency is not out of the question, but the Royals like what options they have on the trade market.

An India-Singer trade is logical. Once teammates at the University of Florida and 2018 first-round Draft picks, both have two seasons of control left. Singer, 28, is projected to have a salary in the $8 million to $8.5 million range next season. India, who will turn 28 on Dec. 15, is signed for $5 million in ‘25 and will be eligible for arbitration again in ‘26.

India’s skill set would certainly fit what the Royals are looking for in a new bat, as he’s spent more time at the top of the order (341 games) than any other spot (182 games in the other eight spots combined) in his career. He has a .257/.360/.416 slash line batting first in the lineup over his career. In 2024, when he wasn’t totally healthy, India posted a .357 on-base percentage and walked at a 12.6 percent clip. The second baseman lacks defensive versatility, but he’s right-handed, so he could platoon with the left-handed-hitting Michael Massey or DH on certain days.

Teams are asking about Singer because he’s a durable starter, and the Royals have a surplus of pitching. Their top three starters from 2024 -- Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha -- are all returning. Singer was an important part of that group, posting a 3.71 ERA in a career-high 179 2/3 innings and 32 starts.

Moving Singer would lead to questions about the back end of the rotation and covering innings. But the Royals feel good about their depth with Daniel Lynch IV, Alec Marsh and Kris Bubic. Kyle Wright, who missed all of 2024 recovering from right shoulder surgery, will make a return next year and is viewed as a starter.

Marsh and Bubic have received interest from other teams, again because of the pitching surplus the Royals have -- although there’s no such thing as too much pitching. Infielder Maikel Garcia, who can play shortstop, has drawn some outside interest, too.

Ward, who turns 31 on Dec. 14, has two more seasons of control and slashed .246/.323/.426 with 25 homers in 2024. His .873 OPS against lefties this past year would certainly help the Royals’ lineup. They were interested in him at the most recent Trade Deadline.

Bohm is certain to have several suitors. Another righty hitter, Bohm would probably fit lower in the lineup for the Royals, like in the No. 5 spot, where his production would be welcome. The Omaha, Neb., native slashed .280/.332/.448 with 15 homers in 2024.