Tigers Trade Targets: Detroit Tigers have made Reds Baseman their top trade target with club optimistic of possible trade

As we enter the busy part of the offseason, it appears more likely that the Reds will trade starting second baseman Jonathan India. While Cincinnati’s president of baseball operations, Nick Krall, has stated that the team is not motivated to move him, his name continues to appear among baseball’s most respected beat writers, and where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
The Detroit Tigers enter the picture. The Tigers are a team on the rise, with a core of young talent that could put them in contention in a weakened AL Central Division as early as this season. The Tigers should be looking for players who can complement Tarik Skubal, Spencer Torkelson, Kerry Carpenter, and (hopefully) healthy Riley Greene and Casey Mize.

Scott Harris has already brought in a quality veteran outfield bat in Mark Canha, but there is still plenty of room for additions.
Second base has been a revolving door in Detroit since Ian Kinsler was traded at the end of the 2017 season. From memory, here is a partial list of players who have played second base since 2018: Niko Goodrum, Gordon Beckham, Harold Castro, Willi Castro, Jonathan Schoop, Zack McKinstry, and Andy Ibáez are among those who have participated. I’m sure that trip down memory lane evokes a variety of emotions. There aren’t going to be many good ones either.

Jonathan India is far from a perfect player, but he’s only 26 years old, has three years until free agency, and possesses the strikezone control that has been a hallmark of Scott Harris’ acquisitions. For the right price, he could be the answer to the Tigers’ second-base problems.
As a 24-year-old, India was named National League Rookie of the Year in 2021. In 150 games that season, he had 3.1 fWAR, a 122 wRC+, a.376 on-base percentage, and a.190 ISO. India hit 21 home runs and drove in 69 runs, with the obligatory “nice” comment, while walking 11.3% of the time. In addition, he stole 12 bases and played average defense.

India has struggled to stay on the field since his breakout season. Due to a nagging hamstring injury, he only played 103 games in 2022, and his numbers on both sides of the ball dropped. He was on the injured list last season due to plantar fasciitis. He had better results in 119 games than in 2022, but only 1.2 fWAR with 99 wRC+.

When you scratch the surface, there’s a lot to like about India’s approach. Last year, his expected wOBA was 12 points higher than his actual. In baseball, his chase rate is in the 93rd percentile. He has more whiffs, strikeouts, and walks than the average batter.

Jonathan India 2021-2023

Season	PA	wRC+	K%	BB%	ISO	HR	SB	fWAR
2021	631	122	22.3	11.3	0.190	21	12	3.1
2022	431	96	21.8	7.2	0.130	10	3	0.5
2023	529	99	20.6	9.8	0.163	17	14	1.2

It’s all about perceived value on both sides of a trade for a player like Jonathan India. The notoriously frugal Reds have a glut of infield prospects vying for playing time, and while India is far from old and expensive, he isn’t as young or as cheap as Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz, both of whom appear to be future stars. At this point, India is most valuable to the Reds as a trade piece capable of bringing back the starting pitching they sorely needed for the stretch run. For the Tigers, you’re excited about what India could become, but you also have to recognize what India is now: a replacement level infielder with upside.

India possesses the tools to be the hitter who earned him the rookie of the year award, but he must remain on the field to demonstrate this. I’m not a doctor, but hamstring strain and plantar fasciitis don’t seem to be related. Nonetheless, nagging injuries have caused him to miss significant time for the past two seasons. Nobody knows if the issues caused a drop in defensive value, but he’s been well below average at second base after a stellar rookie season.

The Reds are looking for starting pitching, but given his recent seasons and the fact that he’s now arbitration eligible, I can’t see a contender parting with a top starting prospect or anything more than a backend rotational piece. Given the departure of Eduardo Rodriguez, the Tigers are also looking for starting pitching, so they don’t appear to be a good fit for the Reds.

The Tigers require an upgrade at second base or in the infield in general, but it is unclear how significant an upgrade India would represent. If the Reds expect a major league starting pitcher, I’d pass on that deal. However, if the Reds are dead set on trading him and are willing to lower their asking price, Detroit would be wise to build a package around a high minors starting pitcher like Ty Madden.

It’s worth looking into if the Tigers believe they can get India back on track and producing like he did before the injury bug bit.