Jonathan India, #1 trade candidate?

[Ricky]

I think I agree with this article and that Jonathan India is #1 candidate to be traded, what about you guys?

https://natisports.net/looking-at-tr...-for-the-reds/

I think I'm going to be heartbroken when he is traded but like the article reads, $5m save and I like the package from Red Sox that could come

thoughtS?

[MoneyInTheBank]

I think I agree with this article and that Jonathan India is #1 candidate to be traded, what about you guys?

https://natisports.net/looking-at-tr...-for-the-reds/

I think I'm going to be heartbroken when he is traded but like the article reads, $5m save and I like the package from Red Sox that could come

thoughtS?

I always take the specific trade proposals on blogs and, no offense to RZers (I love you all), message boards with an enormous grain of salt. I would agree he's probably the #1 trade candidate and the package the Reds get back will be an indicator of where the Reds are going. Do they stick with the "sustainability" direction, which would mean a package of higher upside guys in the lower minors? Do they trade for MLB help? That could mean more of a win now window and more trades could be coming down. Or do they go with the older blocked prospect? Which could be something in the middle as far as direction

[Kc61]

IMO there’s a real good chance India will be traded, especially after he was critical of Reds at trade deadline.

Also feel the trade would be India and prospect(s) for a well-rated, young, pre-arb outfielder. Someone at AAA or a new major leaguer with upside.

[Ricky]

What sticks out to me is knowing the Reds don't have the guaranteed revenue again so I would assume, like nati sports did, they'd be trimming payroll and wanting young international talent
But I couldn't agree more, a lot of bloggers are terrible and have no idea what the value actually is, I think India for the Red sox's two 18 year old top international signings is probably too little even, but they're still fun right
at least nati sports didn't act like we could get a top 100 prospect back like most of the blogs do haha

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i was shocked thta nati sports didn't put the whole 'critical of the reds' as another reason for him to be traded

I think that got swept under the rug a little bit once Bell got fired

totally agree about the OF take. We are slim on those.

[Kc61]

Just thinking out loud - wonder if Reds will use a trade of India and a good prospect to get rid of much of Candy’s contract. If money is tight, the Candy contract is a bummer, and Reds might take back a smaller player return to trade off India and get relief on Candy. Reds would get some prospect return, but mostly save a chunk of salary going into 2025.

[JCM11]

I just can't get excited over the though of trading India for a teams 7th or 8th best prospect. I mean if Boston wants to put Teel or Montgomery in play there's a conversation to be had, but for a 5'8 19 year old in rookie ball thanks but no thanks.

[MoneyInTheBank]

Just thinking out loud - wonder if Reds will use a trade of India and a good prospect to get rid of much of Candy’s contract. If money is tight, the Candy contract is a bummer, and Reds might take back a smaller player return to trade off India and get relief on Candy. Reds would get some prospect return, but mostly save a chunk of salary going into 2025.

They signed Candy for 3 years with this TV stuff hanging over them so I, personally, wouldn't anticipate them being at the "give up assets to shed the contract" point with him

[RiverRat13]

I was one of India's bigger defenders on here last offseason. If they trade him for something that helps the Reds in 2025 (like trading him for a 2-3 win outfielder or even a late inning bullpen arm), then I'd be fine with it. I could even live with trading him for a prospect to replenish the pipeline if the Reds traded other prospects for a legitimate big leaguer. But trading him in the name of "churn" or "peak value" would be inexcusable. The roster isn't deep enough to trade India for future help.

[Kingspoint]

While India seems like he's the fulcrum that unbalances the REDS lineup Defensively, and that moving him off the team solves multiple Defensive problems at the same time, India has forced his way into another season with the REDS in 2025 by far outperforming any other REDS' player when it comes to getting on base and taking pitches, two of the weakest spots the team has and the #1 issue that the REDS have stated they need to fix for 2025 (don't know if they are serious about beyond as I haven't seen changes in the minor league coaches or in those in charge of hiring minor league coaches or influencing what they are supposed to be emphasizing in the minors).

How do you get rid of India when you are trying to improve both on-base-percentage, contact rate, and quality PA's? You're either full of B.S., or you're completely incompetent.

There's many other trade candidates that the REDS are willing to part with over Jonathan India, at least 200 players currently in the organization over him.

[Votto2Elly]

from the article:
"At the end of the day, having India around in what would be his 2nd full season since ROY completely healthy wouldn’t be the worst thing."

...but has he ever really been healthy? He runs like he's stuck in molasses and ALWAYS plays hurt to the detriment of the team. Not mentioned was the surgery he got right after the season ended to "clean up his ankle" and so ALSO not mentioned... he places himself first, team second, and he is a selfish ballplayer and cancer on this club. He MUST be traded if the team hopes to take any meaningful step forward.

[MoneyInTheBank]

from the article:
"At the end of the day, having India around in what would be his 2nd full season since ROY completely healthy wouldn’t be the worst thing."

...but has he ever really been healthy? He runs like he's stuck in molasses and ALWAYS plays hurt to the detriment of the team. Not mentioned was the surgery he got right after the season ended to "clean up his ankle" and so ALSO not mentioned... he places himself first, team second, and he is a selfish ballplayer and cancer on this club. He MUST be traded if the team hopes to take any meaningful step forward.

I pretty strongly disagree that putting bad game film out there by playing hurt is selfish and cancerous

[Old school 1983]

Just thinking out loud - wonder if Reds will use a trade of India and a good prospect to get rid of much of Candy’s contract. If money is tight, the Candy contract is a bummer, and Reds might take back a smaller player return to trade off India and get relief on Candy. Reds would get some prospect return, but mostly save a chunk of salary going into 2025.

If the reds trade India, Candy is probably sticking around.

[CaiGuy]

Just thinking out loud - wonder if Reds will use a trade of India and a good prospect to get rid of much of Candy’s contract. If money is tight, the Candy contract is a bummer, and Reds might take back a smaller player return to trade off India and get relief on Candy. Reds would get some prospect return, but mostly save a chunk of salary going into 2025.

I hope the Reds don't give up talent to shed a contact they signed under a year ago.

I didn't like the signing, as to me he is both a low floor and low ceiling player, bu the best bet is to hold onto him and hope he rebounds to the 120 OPS+ bat he was in 2023. Otherwise they should just eat the contract.

[Kingspoint]

If the reds trade India, Candy is probably sticking around.

That makes me shudder.

[Kc61]

I hope the Reds don't give up talent to shed a contact they signed under a year ago.

I didn't like the signing, as to me he is both a low floor and low ceiling player, bu the best bet is to hold onto him and hope he rebounds to the 120 OPS+ bat he was in 2023. Otherwise they should just eat the contract.

Eating the contract doesn’t accomplish any payroll savings. I suggested this was one possible way to lop off some of the Candy money in a salary dump trade. I don’t think it’s likely because Reds don’t typically use good talent (India, prospects) to force through salary dumps.

I don’t know how desperate Reds are going to be to reduce payroll, or cap it at last year’s level. But in light of the apparent TV revenue loss, if Martinez signs the QO, I’d expect that Reds might do something to open up payroll room which, hopefully, they would invest in needed players.

There are other ways to do that, for example straight trades of guys like India, Diaz, Fraley in exchange for pre-arb players. We’ll soon see what they have in mind, if anything.