Jonathan India

The Cincinnati Reds have shipped away a player once thought to be a big part of their future.

The Reds traded second baseman Jonathan India to the Kansas City Royals on Friday, the team announced. The Reds received starting pitcher Brady Singer in exchange for the 27-year-old while also sending outfielder Joey Wiemer to Kansas City.

Trent Rosencrans and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic previously reported on Nov. 16 that the Royals and Reds were engaged in trade discussions involving India, and the two sides were able to get a deal done on Friday.

India had been the subject of multiple trade rumors dating back to last offseason, but the Reds chose not to move him during the 2024 campaign. Kansas City ultimately convinced Cincinnati to give up on a player who showed promise early in his career.

The 2021 National League Rookie of the Year, India has still yet to reach his full potential in MLB. After his stellar first year in the majors, he dealt with injuries in back-to-back seasons that clearly affected his performance.

In 2023, India appeared in 119 games and hit .244 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI.

India overcame a slow start to this past season to finish with a .248 batting average, 15 home runs and 58 RBI while appearing in a career-high 151 games. He underwent a minor "clean up" procedure on his ankle in October that is expected to allow him to have a normal offseason. Cincinnati finished fourth in the NL Central with a 77-85 record, missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

As for Singer, he finished with a record of 9-13 in 32 starts last season while posting a 3.71 ERA. He also racked up a career-high 170 strikeouts compared to 54 walks in 179.2 innings of work.

Singer has recorded a sub-four ERA in two of the past three years, which included an impressive 3.23 mark during his 2022 campaign to go along with a 10-5 record.

Wiemer spent time with the Reds as well as the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024, going 4-for-26 with nine combined strikeouts and two walks with both organizations.

India is now joining a Royals squad that finished with an 86-76 record in 2024 before losing to the New York Yankees in the ALDS. If he can stay healthy, he should be a solid addition to a lineup that includes stars Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez.

The Kansas City Royals are reportedly looking to upgrade their offense this offseason.

According to Anne Rogers or MLB.com, the team has "checked in" on Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward, "but nothing has progressed deeply yet."

That follows a report from C. Trent Rosecrans and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic over the weekend that Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India is "one of several hitters the Royals are targeting" this offseason, with Kansas City starting pitcher Brady Singer "drawing interest from the Reds and other teams seeking to deepen their rotations."

The Royals, behind superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and a solid pitching staff—led by Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans and Michael Wacha—made a surprising run to the MLB postseason in 2024, sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in the Wild Card Round before losing to the New York Yankees in four games during the ALDS.

In the six postseason games, the Royals averaged 2.5 runs per game. During the regular season, the team ranked 20th in homers (170) and 13th in runs (735).

The future is bright, but an offensive upgrade is clearly needed.

India, 27, hit .248 with 15 homers, 58 RBI, 84 runs and 13 stolen bases in the 2024 season, posting a .750 OPS. He would address the team's need for a leadoff hitter.

Bohm, 28, was excellent for much of the past season, hitting .280 with 15 homers, 97 RBI, 62 runs, 44 doubles and a .779 OPS, earning his first All-Star Game bid. He cooled off significantly late in the regular season and during the playoffs after returning from a hand injury, however, and there have been reports that the Phillies might be interested in moving him to pursue bigger fish in free agency like Juan Soto or Alex Bregman.

Ward, 30, would add some home-run pop to Kansas City's lineup after hitting .246 with a career-high 25 homers and 75 RBI in 2024, adding a .748 OPS. Rogers reported that the Royals were "interested in him at the most recent trade deadline."

The Kansas City Royals are looking at Cincinnati Reds infielder Jonathan India as a potential trade target this offseason.

Ken Rosenthal and C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reported that the Royals have looked into India and could acquire him to fill a second base role that was a revolving door for the team in 2024.

"India, the Cincinnati Reds' second baseman, is one of several hitters the Kansas City Royals are targeting, according to sources briefed on the team's discussions," Rosenthal and Rosecrans wrote.

Rosenthal and Rosecrans reported that the Reds could seek Royals pitcher Brady Singer as a return for India.

Ironically, India and Singer were teammates at the University of Florida and were first-round picks in the 2018 MLB Draft.

India hit .248/.357/.392 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 151 games. He could stabilize the second base position and form a formidable middle infield duo with Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

Singer went 9-13 with a 3.71 ERA in 32 starts in 2024. He's a solid middle-of-the-rotation piece with high upside and could help fortify Cincinnati's stable of arms in 2025.

The trade value of Cincinnati Reds' infielder Jonathan India is reportedly "increasing," according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, due to his "performance and the needs of suitors like the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners."

On the season, India is hitting .271 with eight homers, 40 RBI, 50 runs, nine stolen bases and a .789 OPS.

As Morosi noted, India would help address the Yankees' need for a reliable leadoff hitter. The Reds' infielder is hitting .265 with a .376 on-base percentage in the role, with three homers and 15 RBI.

With the Reds now just 49-53—leaving them fourth in the NL Central, 10 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers, and four games back for the final NL Wild Card berth—they could potentially be sellers ahead of the trade deadline.

There is mixed reporting in that regard, however.

ESPN's Jorge Castillo reported on Wednesday that the Yankees "also have interest in [India], but the Reds aren't expected to make him available unless they drop in the National League Wild Card race over the next week, according to league sources."

India would undoubtedly be an upgrade over Gleyber Torres at second base, who has a .671 OPS this season and has already posted 12 errors.

Seattle, meanwhile, is 53-51 on the season and just one game back of the Houston Astros in the AL West, so adding pieces ahead of the trade deadline to make a playoff push would make sense.

The team's current starter at second base, Jorge Polanco, has been uninspiring at the plate this season, hitting .200 with six homers, 19 RBI and a .583 OPS in 67 games. India would certainly be an upgrade for the Mariners if he's made available.

The struggling New York Yankees, losers of 21 of their last 31 following a season sweep at the hands of the across-city Mets, are interested in trading for Jonathan India from the Cincinnati Reds according to ESPN's Jorge Castillo.

That is, if the Reds fall out of playoff contention as that is the only way the team is willing to deal India, per the report.

Say the Reds do, and India becomes available, such a deal will not be the lifeblood reignites what has been one of the league's worst teams over the last month and a half.

The team's pitching, once believed to be one of its strong suits, has given up 45 runs to the Tampa Bay Rays and the aforementioned Mets since the All-Star break.

Gerrit Cole continued to struggle Wednesday, going 5.2 innings and giving up six earned runs on eight hits. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner is hardly the only problem with the Yankees' rotation and bullpen. Nestor Cortes (3.99 ERA) and Carlos Rodon (4.42) have struggled against opposing bats, too.

Add to that the fact that the team has given up the fifth-most home runs in the majors this season with 123, per MLB.com, and you have a snapshot of one half of the team's issues.

Offensively, the team is carried by their two superstars: Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, who carry .311 and .307 averages, respectively. Only Anthony Volpe is hitting over .250 otherwise and that is just barely (.251).

India would be an improvement in that regard, with his slash line of .271/.374/.415, eight home runs, and 40 RBI. His defense has improved over a year ago and he would be an instant upgrade over Gleyber Torres at that position, too.

Rolling up to the deadline and dealing for India, though, would hardly be the only noise the Yankees could make and think that everything would be right with the world. He is not an explosive bat like Soto or Judge and his defense, while better than a season ago, is more efficient than it is excellent.

The Yankees need another bat that can spark the offense when Judge or Soto is having an off night. They could use pitching depth, with the addition of another starter or a bullpen arm or two that can help retain leads.

The team has been helped in its AL East standing by an Orioles team that has been more streaky than anything this last two or three weeks, especially on the heels of two straight losses to a bad Marlins team. They are not out of it and have done just enough to stay in playoff contention.

If things do not turn around though, it will be a long second-half of the season for a team in the media capital of the United States, with plenty of headlines and talking heads questioning what is next for a team that was expected to contend for a World Series, not just luckily sneak into the postseason amid sub-par pitching and lackluster bats.

The slumping New York Yankees were reportedly targeting a pair of National League infielders—Ryan McMahon of the Colorado Rockies and Jonathan India of the Cincinnati Reds—as the July 30 trade deadline approaches. However, neither player appears likely to be moved, per ESPN's Jorge Castillo.

"The Yankees inquired about Colorado Rockies All-Star infielder Ryan McMahon, but the team has since told him he would not be traded, according to a league source. The Yankees also have interest in Cincinnati Reds infielder Jonathan India, but the Reds aren't expected to make him available unless they drop in the National League wild-card race over the next week, according to league sources."

Castillo also mentioned a couple of other options in the Chicago Cubs' Nico Hoerner and the Miami Marlins' Jazz Chisholm, though he cautioned that the organization "has concerns about how his personality would fit inside the clubhouse."

Despite the team's offensive struggles, the 60-43 Yankees sit in second place in the American League East, just a game-and-a-half back of the first-place Baltimore Orioles. But the Bronx Bombers have gone 10-21 since June 15 and need significant offensive help. The situation is so dire that Soto even called out his teammates following the Yankees' 3-2 loss to the New York Mets.

The Yankees paid a heavy price in a trade with the San Diego Padres for Soto, who will be a free agent after this season. It's entirely possible Soto leaves town this winter, so the Yankees need to take full advantage of their season with him in right field.

It's not a big surprise that Yankees outfield prospects Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones "aren't entirely off the table" in trade talks, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

McMahon, India and perhaps Chisholm do appear off the table, though, but that shouldn't stop the Yankees from doing everything in their power to jumpstart this team in the dog days of summer.

The Cincinnati Reds and infielder Jonathan India agreed to a two-year, $8.8 million contract to avoid arbitration this offseason, and any rumors the team was planning on moving him instead were apparently exaggerated.

Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reported "trade rumors surrounding India were overblown all offseason. No player is untouchable, but the Reds wanted India to continue to set the tone in the lineup and in the clubhouse for the team in 2024."

India is signed with the Reds through the 2026 campaign, but there were plenty of trade rumors throughout the winter.

That there were rumors wasn't particularly surprising considering Matt McLain is someone who could take over as the starting second baseman, but president of baseball operations Nick Krall told him, "We don't want to trade you. That's just talk."

Even if he isn't the everyday second baseman, India is versatile enough to play first base, third base, left field or even designated hitter. That makes him valuable in a lineup that will have a crowded infield with Elly De La Cruz, McLain, Noelvi Marte, Jeimer Candelario and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, among others.

"I'm open to this," India said. "I'll train for it and do the best I can at those positions. Some of those are new. I've always been an infielder. We'll see how the outfield goes, but I'm up for the challenge. I just want to be on the field every day.

"That's all I can ask for. I want to play this game every way. It's my passion. I want to help this team win every day. I love competing and I love winning. That's my nature. I'm going to do everything I can to help."

Cincinnati is entering the 2024 season with playoff expectations.

It finished in third place in the National League Central at 82-80 last year, but the division as a whole may not be as difficult this year. The reigning-champion Milwaukee Brewers lost manager Craig Counsell to the Chicago Cubs and traded ace Corbin Burnes, among other moves.

Chicago got Counsell but hasn't made any other significant additions and may lose Cody Bellinger, who anchored its lineup in 2023 but remains a free agent well into February.

The opportunity is there for the Reds to make a jump and win the division, and India's ability to return to his form as the 2021 National League Rookie of the Year could play a big part in that. He slashed .244/.338/.407 with 17 home runs and 61 RBI last season while dealing with some inconsistency.

At least he doesn't have to worry about being traded as he looks to help lead Cincinnati to the postseason.