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MLB.com lists a comeback candidate for each team.<\/a><\/p>\n Royals: 2B\u00a0Jonathan India<\/a><\/strong> Mark Polishuk at MLB Trade Rumors writes about how each American League team has addressed its biggest weakness. <\/a><\/p>\n Royals (Right field, -1.9 bWAR<\/strong>): The Royals fielded one of baseball\u2019s worst outfields in 2024, and they were almost literally the worst in 2025 \u2014 only the Rockies had a lower outfield bWAR than Kansas City\u2019s cumulative -0.7 mark.\u00a0 The left field spot generated -0.7 bWAR, while\u00a0Kyle Isbel<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s excellent defense at least brought the center field position up to semi-respectability.\u00a0 K.C. has already been more active in addressing their outfield, landing\u00a0Isaac Collins<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0in a trade with the Brewers and signing\u00a0Lane Thomas<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0as a bounce-back candidate for further depth.\u00a0 The club is\u00a0still on the hunt<\/a>\u00a0for more outfield help, and acquiring a better option for right field in particular would be ideal, given Thomas\u2019 struggles in 2025 and\u00a0Jac Caglianone<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s unproductive rookie season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n Joey Mistretta at Roundtable Sports writes why trading Cole Ragans would be a bad idea.<\/a><\/p>\n Moving on from Ragans now would mean receiving less value than the Royals could get if he was fresh off a strong year. He is under contract through 2027 and team control through 2028, so there is no reason to trade him at the moment.<\/p>\n Of course, if the Royals do not agree to a contract extension with Ragans and he pitches well in 2026, then moving on from him next offseason could make sense. His trade value would increase and there would be more urgency to get something in return for him \u2014 as opposed to losing him in free agency in the future.<\/p>\n This offseason is not the time to move on from Ragans. Additionally, Kansas City is seemingly hoping to compete. Ragans features the ceiling of an ace-caliber pitcher. His presence in the starting rotation will only help the Royals reach their goals in 2026 \u2014 as long as injuries do not prove to be too much of an obstacle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n On social media, Union Station calls for a downtown ballpark for the Royals<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Chris Stritzel at The KC Pulse makes the case for a ballpark at 18th and Paseo<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Royals signed former LSU infielder Michael Braswell III as a pitcher.<\/a><\/p>\n Royals minor leaguer Harold Castro will play in Korea next year<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Orioles re-sign pitcher Zach Eflin<\/a> to a one-year, $10 million contract.<\/p>\n The Reds acquire outfielder Dane Myers from the Marlins<\/a> and sign outfielder JJ Bleday to a one-year deal<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Cubs sign former Royals reliever Hunter Harvey<\/a> to a one-year, $6 million deal.<\/p>\n The Blue Jays, Red Sox, Cubs, and Diamondbacks are the teams pursuing Alex Bregman.<\/a><\/p>\n The Red Sox are looking for infield help.<\/a><\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Angels and Pirates are pursuing Japanese free agent infielder Kazuma Okamoto<\/a>.<\/p>\n Half of the top free agents are still unsigned.<\/a><\/p>\n Jayson Stark at The Athletic writes about the weird but true things that happened in 2025<\/a>. [$]<\/p>\n How Paul DePodesta is building trust and a team of nerds in Colorado.<\/a><\/p>\n Pitcher Andrew Heaney announces his retirement<\/a> after a 12-year career.<\/p>\n Is Aaron Judge enjoying the best peak by a right-handed hitter ever<\/a>?<\/p>\n Famed baseball analyst Voros McCracken has a Substack and he has written about 2026 hitter projections.<\/a><\/p>\n Who are the top NFL coaching candidates for 2026<\/a>?<\/p>\n Brooks Koepka becomes the first major golfer to defect from LIV Golf.<\/a><\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Climate change has led to hundreds of closed ski resorts in the Alps<\/a>.<\/p>\n Restaurants are trying to emphasize \u201cvalue\u201d on their menus in 2026.<\/a><\/p>\n\n
India had a tough first season with the Royals after they acquired him to be their leadoff man in a trade with the Reds following the 2024 season. His stats across the board were down, slashing .233\/.323\/.346 with an 89 wRC+. However, his strikeout rate decreased a bit, from 19.6% to 18.7%, and his chase, whiff and overall swing decisions were consistent with his performance in Cincinnati. That gives the Royals optimism that India might perform more like the player they were hoping to acquire, now that he\u2019s settled in Kansas City and understands the bigger ballpark that is Kauffman Stadium.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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