It's no secret to anyone that the Boston Red Sox need help from the outside as they push toward a postseason berth, but one unlikely source has come forward as a possible suitor for their needs: the Cincinnati Reds.
The Reds and the Red Sox are no strangers to making trades with each other ranging from a trade that sent Tommy Pham to Boston for a player-to-be-named-later. This year is no different as Cincinnati has, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, said they are open to trading Jonathan India.
The Reds have told other teams they are willing to trade 2021 NL ROY Jonathan India for young, controllable starting pitching, per sources. Cincinnati has a glut of young infielders (Steer, De La Cruz, McLain, Encarnacion-Strand) with more on the way (Marte, Arroyo, Collier).
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 24, 2023
Red Sox and Reds a good pairing for potential Jonathan India trade
With Boston ripe with starting pitching, and the Reds looking for young arms in return for India, this is exhibit A of why the Red Sox have to be in on this trade. Boston has almost too much to offer Cincinnati and it almost seems too good to be true.
If the Red Sox were to trade for India, he would bring a little bit of everything to an infield that has lacked that "it" factor throughout the season.
Going into the Monday, India has collected a .251 batting average, while hitting 14 home runs, and 51 RBI. He has also matched his career high in stolen bases with 12. All of this puts him on track to set career-highs in home runs, runs batted in, and stolen bases. Put all of these intangibles together, and they are all what Boston has missed this season.
With India playing 85 of his 100 games at second base, this season, another benefit he would bring in is his ability to shore up the middle infield for Boston, especially with Trevor Story beginning his rehab assignment the prior week, and expecting to be reactivated in early August.
While he is unsigned following the 2023 season, the thought of him returning for a reasonable amount of money is not impossible to think about. This season, India is due to be paid $760,000, definitely a number the Red Sox could go up on, especially if he were to commit to staying long term, and if his numbers were to go up towards the end of the year.
Given what the Reds are asking for in return, Boston would also make for an ideal trade partner given their bevy of young arms they have collected over the past few seasons. If the trade were to go through it's a matter of what types of arms Cincinnati would want: starters, bullpen arms, or even potential closers.
India could give the Red Sox some added power to their lineup, and security at a position moving forward for at least 2023. Even if he does wind up just being a rental for the rest of this season, Boston should still be all in at, or before, the deadline given how easy the return appears to be on the Red Sox end.