Royals bring back Jonathan India in surprise move after non-tender buzz

Jonathan India is getting one more shot in Kansas City, and the Kansas City Royals are betting that 2025 was the outlier—not the new normal.

According to The Athletic, the Royals brought India back on a one-year, $8 million deal, avoiding the non-tender route many around the league expected. After a disappointing first season in Kansas City, the move signals that the club still believes his on-base skills and versatility can help stabilize their roster heading into 2026.

India’s 2025 performance left plenty of questions. He hit .233/.323/.346 with nine home runs and 45 RBIs over 136 games, posting an 89 wRC+ and finishing close to replacement level by FanGraphs WAR. His Baseball Savant profile backed up the uneven results: an 87.9 mph average exit velocity, a 36.8 percent hard-hit rate and a 5.8 percent barrel rate — all hovering around league average. His expected numbers told a slightly more forgiving story. A .314 xwOBA outpaced his .301 wOBA, suggesting some poor batted-ball luck. But the defensive metrics were much tougher, grading him as below average at second, third and in brief outfield looks.

Even with the mixed profile, there’s a reason the Royals didn’t walk away. 

India still brings a reliably patient approach, with a 9.5 percent walk rate and a track record of getting on base. That skill remains a clear need for a lineup anchored by Bobby Witt Jr., especially with uncertainty at second base and left field. FanGraphs’ 2026 projections still see him as a league-average bat, the kind of steady presence a mid-market team can use while sorting out long-term answers.

The financial side also works. 

With roughly $133 million projected for 2026 payroll obligations, Kansas City remains well below any luxury-tax thresholds. India at $8 million fits cleanly into their budget without preventing future additions.

It’s a short-term deal that gives India the runway to rebuild his value before free agency, and the Royals get stability as they try to stay competitive in 2026.