The Reds and India avoid arbitration, retain crowded infield
We have gone from a sure-fire trade chip at the 2023 trade deadline, to taking a "mental day" to process trade rumors, back to a certain trade candidate, to a potential position change, all to arrive at an arbitration standoff.
Needless to say, it has been complicated between the Reds and India since midseason of 2023. Trade rumors have continued to swirl despite numerous front office comments that the club was not actively looking to trade India.
It rarely comes to a happy ending when both sides are vocal and there are so many headlines about a particular player. However, now, an agreement has been reached.
The Deal
The contract covers India's age 27 and 28 seasons and is worth $8.8 million ($3.8M in 2024, $5M in 2025).
Cincinnati has historically been intentional with reaching deals to avoid arbitration hearings. India and the Reds were set for such a hearing before coming to this agreement, with the former Rookie of the Year filing at $4M against the Reds' $3.2M offer.
India will be eligible again for arbitration following the 2025 season, as he is under team control through 2026, when he would then become a free agent.
The Impact
The contract agreement comes with much debate as the Reds enter 2024 with a very talented and crowded infield. Trade rumors surrounding India have quieted, and the spotlight will be on manager David Bell to manage a constant rotation of infielders.
India is yet to reprise his role as the impact player who was awarded as the National League Rookie of the Year in 2021, with two middling seasons since.
Additionally, injuries have been a factor, as he has only appeared in about 68% of the Reds' games over the past two years, which indeed opened the door for Matt McLain to make a strong case for his handling of the second base duties moving forward.
Due to the recent transactions and focus put on versatility, the Reds appear to be using a roster construction strategy based heavily on injury preparedness, which might have played into this contract.
While this pact likely puts any lingering trade rumors to bed, it is important to note that India could still be traded any time if a team is willing to take on the new contract, which is still relatively affordable.
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