Multiple teams in talks with Reds for Jonathan India

Even though the Cincinnati Reds front staff stated that they were not looking to sell Jonathan India, the whispers regarding him seem to have been going around for a year. However, his lack of movement could simply indicate that the team isn’t phoning teams to ask, “Do you want Jonathan India?” rather than that they aren’t interested in dealing him for the proper price. According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, trade talks between numerous teams and Cincinnati for India are ongoing, and the market is still active.

Jonathan India, who appears to have lost his starting role at second base, may play a variety of positions and may even see some action in the outfield, according to the front office’s statement from last week. The team signed Jeimer Candelario to add another player ahead of him on the depth chart to go along with Matt McLain at second base, which limits how much moving around the team can do with Noelvi Marte and Elly De La Cruz to slide McLain off of second base and get India on the field. With a crowded infield, India, who has only played second base in the big leagues, appears to be looking at a utility player role.

Cincinnati finds itself in a situation where other clubs are aware that they would like to trade Jonathan India to another team rather than turn him into a utility player and further reduce his trade value. But they haven’t accepted less in exchange than they feel they should be receiving during the offseason thus far. The Reds do have some potential power in trying to pit clubs against one another as other teams are attempting to reach an agreement. Given that India is currently probably simply a bench player for them, there is a limit to how far that can go.