Report: Reds are in ‘No Hurry’ to Trade Jonathan India, Will Continue Fielding Offers
The Cincinnati Reds may soon reach a point where they have too many quality infielders on their 26-man roster. That’s a great problem, but it could signal trouble for right-handed bat Jonathan India.
India has served as the Reds’ everyday second baseman thus far, logging a team-high 418.1 innings this season. Once top prospect Elly De La Cruz – the No. 4 top prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline – arrives, though, playing time could be hard to come by.
Most experts believe it’s only a matter of time before De La Cruz makes his MLB debut. At which point, the young phenom will likely form a double-play tandem with rookie sensation Matt McLain, displacing India from second base.
As this outcome nears, the Reds have received trade offers from across the sport regarding the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year winner. But, as ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports, Cincinnati’s front office isn’t rushing to part ways with the 26-year-old infielder.
It’s no surprise that India is generating interest, as he has bounced back from a disappointing 2022 season, hitting .277/.363/.418 with five home runs, 24 RBIs and a 109 wRC+ over 56 games in 2023. He has also been worth 1.3 fWAR, surpassing last season’s rating (0.4).
The fifth overall selection from 2018 has successfully avoided the injury bug after lingering hamstring issues capped him at just 103 contests in 2022. Those IL stints also impacted his offensive production, as he slashed .249/.327/.378 with a 95 wRC+, five percentage points below league average.
A big reason for India’s resurgence has been his health. Another factor – and perhaps the more meaningful one – is his improved plate discipline in the batter’s box.
India is earning more walks, increasing his output by over three percent, with his 10.5 percent clip placing in the 65th percentile of the majors. He has also improved his strikeout (18.5%), whiff (18.7%) and chase rates (19.4%), all of which are career bests and rank in the 72nd percentile or higher.
Cincinnati’s 6-foot righty has looked similar to his award-winning rookie campaign across the season’s one-third mark. But his value stretches beyond his on-field contributions, as many throughout the organization view him as the club’s unofficial captain.
Even so, India could struggle to locate consistent playing time shortly as the franchise’s youth emerges into pivotal roles. For now, however, he hopes to force his way into the lineup as often as possible rather than looking over his shoulder at his potential replacement.
“It’s part of the game. There are always guys behind you, always,” India told reporters last Saturday. “If I just play well, it won’t matter. That’s all I can do, play my best and make the decision tough for them.”
It would likely be beneficial for the Reds to keep India, as he’s under club control through the 2026 season and isn’t arbitration-eligible until next off-season. And if he continues to produce, manager David Bell may have no choice but to try him at a different position.
The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native has only played second base in the majors but compiled 1,185.1 innings at third during his minor-league career. Kevin Newman has occupied that spot recently, though he is likely better suited for an off-the-bench role.
Moving to third, however, probably wouldn’t be a long-term solution with Christian Encarnacion-Strand – acquired at last season’s trade deadline along with fellow top prospects Spencer Steer, Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo in the Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle deals – in the pipeline.
Even if the Reds don’t decide to trade India ahead of the August 1st deadline, they could always revisit this topic over the winter and use their surplus of infielders to address other areas of need.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
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