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The Kansas City Royals should be looking for ways to improve their offense this offseason. Their starting rotation helped them win 86 games and secure the second American League Wild Card spot, but their lineup was thin beyond MVP finalist Bobby Witt Jr.
They could use a little more power to boost their lineup for 2025. They could either look at potential free agents or dive into the trade market.
Max Reiper of SB Nation made a list of players who could be acquired via trade, and at the top of the list was Cincinnati Reds slugger Jonathan India.
"The Reds have a glut of infielders with Matt McLain to return next year, and India could fetch a decent haul for them. He posted the best walk rate and lowest strikeout rate of his career this year, and he has one of the best walk rates among second basemen (10.5 percent) over the last four years," Reiper wrote. "He hit 21 home runs his rookie seasons, but has been unable to reach those kind of power numbers since. He's a solid defender at second and will earn $5 million next year before being eligible for arbitration for the last time in 2026."
India hit just .248 during the regular season with 15 home runs, 58 RBI, 13 stolen bases and a .750 OPS. He also had a 105 OPS+ and 1.7 WAR. Still, he possesses power from the right side and could be a great addition to a Royals lineup that desperately needs some pop.
More MLB: Phillies Embattled $8 Million All-Star Linked To Royals In Possible Blockbuster
More must-reads:
- Rangers playoff hopes continue to be decimated by injuries
- Phillies' Kyle Schwarber makes all kinds of MLB history vs. Braves
- The 'Active 20-home run MLB seasons' quiz
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Former NFL QB shares harsh truth about Browns' Shedeur Sanders
Some previously accused Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski of sabotaging the development of rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders as Stefanski kept Sanders buried on the depth chart throughout the summer. A day after it was learned that Cleveland had agreed to trade Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2026 fifth-round draft pick, Stefanski confirmed that Sanders will enter the Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7 as the Browns' QB3 behind starter Joe Flacco and fellow first-year pro Dillon Gabriel. During a recent chat with Jason Reid of Andscape, former NFL quarterback Akili Smith explained that the tape shows Sanders is behind as it pertains to playing the sport's most important position at the highest level. "If you take some time and break down the tape, and you understand what concepts they’re running, you see that Dillon Gabriel is ahead of Shedeur," Smith said. "No one who looks at the tape of those two and understands what they’re looking at could see it any other way. Gabriel is ahead of him, and a big thing is pocket presence. Shedeur took a sack in [the last preseason] game…it was ridiculous. You had all these people [on social media] blaming the line. He’s dropping back [too far]. He had to step up in the pocket or throw the ball away. It’s one or the other." Sanders took five sacks and completed just 3-of-6 passes for 14 yards in Cleveland's preseason finale versus the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 23. Meanwhile, Gabriel connected on 12-of-19 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown in that contest. Smith is among those who believe Gabriel’s tape from August "is just better" than what Sanders produced. Sanders took an FBS-high 94 sacks over his final two college seasons before he fell to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. In the eyes of some, his play against the Rams showed that it will take time for him to unlearn certain bad habits he picked up over the years. "Anyone who’s got such a long way to go has to keep his nose clean, not turn on the organization and keep working," Smith added. "He has to put everything he has into continuing to get better each day. And that way, even if it doesn’t happen in Cleveland, you’re still giving yourself a chance. You’d show other teams that you want this. You’d show how much it means to you. Then maybe it happens somewhere else." The Browns trading Pickett indicates they're dedicated to continuing their development of Sanders through at least the 2025 season. That said, the potential return of Deshaun Watson is looming over Sanders' status as Flacco prepares to start against Cincinnati.
Cowboys land three-time Pro Bowler in Micah Parsons trade
It may be no consolation to Dallas Cowboys fans, but their team did land an outstanding defensive player as part of the stunning blockbuster that sent Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday. The Cowboys have traded Parsons to the Packers in exchange for a pair of first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. While Clark is nowhere near the same caliber player as Parsons, he has been one of the top players at his position in the NFL for several years now. Clark spent nine seasons with the Packers after they drafted him in the first round out of UCLA in 2016. He became a full-time starter in 2017 and has started every game in which he has played since. Clark started all 17 games for Green Bay the past three seasons and has missed just one game in the last four years. He had a career-high 7.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss in 2023, which is when he made his third and most recent Pro Bowl. The 6-foot-3, 314-pound tackle also made the Pro Bowl in 2019 and 2021. Almost all Cowboys fans would have preferred for their team to work out a long-term extension with Parsons. The tension between the two sides simply escalated to the point where a divorce became the most viable option. If the Cowboys felt they had no choice but to trade Parsons, they at least seem to have maximized the return. The future first-round picks will give them flexibility to build through trades and/or the draft. It should also soften the blow — even if only slightly — that they landed a 29-year-old player who has played like an elite defensive tackle throughout much of his career.
Commanders' biggest winner from final roster cuts is painfully obvious
The Washington Commanders have the NFL's oldest roster this season. Not entirely surprising when one considers the inept drafts over Ron Rivera's four years at the helm, which sparked a downward spiral that eventually landed the franchise Jayden Daniels. Not a bad consolation prize, but it's forced Adam Peters into a change in strategy. But for his ambitious plans for progression to bear fruit, Washington's young players must also make a lasting contribution. And there was one big winner from the team's final roster cuts who's coming to the fore at the best possible time. Chris Rodriguez Jr. has gone from undesirable to undeniable with Commanders Plans change quickly in the NFL. That was all too evident in Washington's running back room, which began with Brian Robinson Jr. being cast into the shadows and traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round pick. That was somewhat surprising, but it indicated a level of faith in the options already around. Among them was Chris Rodriguez Jr., who team insider Zach Selby believes is in line for a substantial role when all hope seemed lost once upon a time. Chris Rodriguez Jr.'s emergence was another surprise from camp. He showed growth in the offense after being cut and sent to the practice squad last season, and that manifested in the form of a 40-yard run against the Bengals. The Commanders have plans for him as their short-yardage and goal line running back, but he could be primed for a more robust role.Zach Selby This is better than even the brightest optimist envisaged for Rodriguez heading into Washington's preparations for the new campaign. The sixth-round pick got a new deal this offseason but found himself way down the pecking order. After taking advantage of every opportunity and displaying the correct resolve, he's gone from an afterthought to an important part of the team's plans. Rodriguez has momentum on his side. But make no mistake, what comes next is even more crucial for his future career outlook. The Commanders are giving him a shot. Considering Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols, and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt are also on the squad, he must deliver. Otherwise, the Kentucky product could fall out of favor all over again. Hopefully, it doesn't come to that. Rodriguez must keep running with the same urgency and aggression. He must continue to exploit small creases for big gains. He must also become a dominant red-zone presence when touchdowns are in sight. If Rodriguez can do that, the Commanders' decision to bring him along for the ride will be vindicated. It could also earn him a longer-term commitment from the franchise next spring along the way. More Commanders news and analysis
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