Jonathan India MLB trade deadline odds: Cincinnati Reds listening to offers for 2021 NL Rookie of the Year
The Reds are reportedly open to trading excellent young second baseman Jonathan India.
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The Cincinnati Reds are a team on the rise, so why would they trade one of the best young offensive second basemen in Major League Baseball in Jonathan India? India is about to get a lot more expensive, and the penny-pinching Reds are loaded with infield talent but need starting pitching to win the NL Central this season and going forward. Thus, they are reportedly listening on India. SportsLine offers odds on whether he is dealt by the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported the Reds' interest in moving India to obtain young, controllable starting pitching. Only a few months ago, Cincinnati told other teams that India was unavailable. However, the emergence of rookies Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, Matt McClain and even Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who was only recently promoted, has made India expendable. In addition, five of the franchise's top six prospects, which includes Encarnacion-Strand because he has only been up briefly, are infielders.
The 26-year-old India, a 2018 first-round pick out of the University of Florida, is hitting .251 with 14 homers, 51 RBI, 12 steals and a .749 OPS, good for a WAR of 1.1. He is playing closer to his rookie of the year form than he did in 2022 when he dealt with injries – although India is hitting below .240 since the start of June. He's only owed $760,000 in salary this year but, but will be arbitration-eligible over the winter. He won't reach free agency until 2027.
While Cincinnati boasts a top-10 offense in the league, the rotation's ERA of 5.42 is the third-worst in the sport. Yet the Reds are just a half-game out of first in the NL Central. DraftKings lists them +145 to make the playoffs and -175 to not. Cincy starts perhaps a season-defining road trip tonight in Milwaukee for the first of a three-game series, followed by three at the Dodgers and four at the Cubs (who are open for business).
Cincinnati has been eyeing starting pitching help such as the White Sox's Lucas Giolito and Cubs' Marcus Stroman, but neither would likely fetch India because both will be free agents this winter. If the White Sox would listen on Dylan Cease, there could be an match. The Sox aren't making Cease available yet, though.
Seattle is a team trying to contend for a playoff spot this year with some good young pitching and a major need of an offensive upgrade in the middle infield. India could make a lot of sense there. The Marlins get involved, as they are awash in young arms as well.
Will Jonathan India be a member of the Reds after the Aug. 1 trade deadline?
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