Cincinnati Reds Ink Jonathan India to Multi-Year Contract, Avoiding Arbitration

The Cincinnati Reds and second baseman Jonathan India have agreed to a two-year contract, the team announced Friday.

The two sides were set to go to an arbitration hearing after failing to compromise on India's 2024 salary back in January. The Reds were offering India $3.2 million, while India was looking to make $4 million.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, India just inked a two-year, $8.8 million deal.

As a result, India will not face arbitration next offseason, either. He will go through the process one more time in 2026, however, before hitting free agency in 2027.

The #Reds and IF Jonathan India have agreed to terms on a two-year contract, avoiding arbitration. pic.twitter.com/Zz1RPdC851
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) February 9, 2024

India has been at the center of trade rumors since last summer, when Cincinnati was reportedly open to dealing him at the MLB Trade Deadline. Those discussions continued into the fall, with reports of a potential move popping up in both November and December.

Reds manager David Bell spoke about India and the rest of Cincinnati's infielders last month, though, and he said the 27-year-old was fully bought in on the team and his role on it.

India won NL Rookie of the Year in 2021, hitting .269 with 21 home runs, 69 RBI, 34 doubles, 71 walks, an .835 OPS and a 4.1 WAR. In the two years since, however, he has failed to live up to his debut campaign.

This past season, India hit .244 with 17 home runs, 61 RBI, 23 doubles, 52 walks, a .746 OPS and 1.4 WAR. The second baseman has also posted negative dWARs in back-to-back years.

Noelvi Marte, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz were all infielders who made their MLB debuts in 2023, with each of them somehow chipping away at India's playing time in the process. Veteran first baseman Joey Votto had his club option declined, but the Reds signed Jeimer Candelario to replace him.

That leaves India as Cincinnati's projected Opening Day designated hitter, but the sheer number of bodies in the clubhouse may prevent him from being a true everyday player.

If the Reds do end up pulling the trigger on an India trade, suitors can rest easy knowing exactly what he'll make in 2024 and 2025.

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