Although there hasn't been any big trades yet and everyone is waiting to see if Shohei Ohtani is going to be on the move, there has been one new major development in the trade market this week. On Monday, MLB reporter Mark Feinsand relayed the news that the Cincinnati Reds are shopping around their 2021 Rookie of the Year Jonathan India.
The 26-year-old second baseman is having a decent 2023 season, now in his third year with the Reds. However, it also seems that India might be the eventual odd-man out in a talented Cincinnati infield that has a few more prospects still to come.
We had some fun with that report here at Sports Mockery, but we took it to the next level, proposing a Dylan Cease trade to the Reds in exchange for India, plus two of Cincinnati's top-5 prospects.
That was pure speculation, though, and at this point we've seen in reports that the White Sox consider Cease one of their untouchables through the upcoming Aug. 1, trade deadline.
However, it turns out that the White Sox are reportedly interested in trading for India.
Here's what Gordon Wittenmyer wrote in the Cincinnati Inquirer.
Sources in Chicago confirm the White Sox – who have several starting pitchers on the trade block – have interest in the infielder who entered Monday leading the league in games played, all but a few recent games batting either first or third in the Reds lineup.
So, let's break this down a bit.
The White Sox, who were just swept by the pink-eyed Minnesota Twins, have several starting pitchers that could be available in trade talks this week. The names that have been tossed around in various reports since June are Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito and Dylan Cease.
Earlier this month, MLB insider Jon Morosi first reported about Cincinnati's interest in the White Sox starting rotation.
But let's go back to Mark Feinsand's report from Monday. The Reds are comfortable trading India for pitching, but they want someone who's already under team control and well, relatively young.
Lance Lynn is 36-years-old and with his elevated home run this year, he seems like an awful fit for the Reds. Lynn is out of the question for this scenario.
Lucas Giolito has been good for the White Sox this year and while he's considered one of the best available starting pitchers in the trade market, I don't think the Reds are that anxious to deal away India, who has three years of arbitration left before becoming a free agent, for Giolito, who will be a free agent in a few months.
As for Dylan Cease, he'd have to be part of a huge package for the White Sox to trade him away. And again, the White Sox have already put it out there that he's untouchable. Cease won't be a free agent until after the 2025 season.
But the White Sox do have one more starting pitcher that meets the Reds' criteria for an India trade. Someone who is relatively young and is under team control through 2025. Does a Michael Kopech for Jonathan India trade work?
Maybe a change of scenery could work for both guys.
However, as much fun as it can be to debate trade ideas, Wittenmyer, who reported the White Sox's interest in India, also downplayed the initial trade rumor about the Reds telling teams they're willing to ship India away from Cincinnati.
Via Gordon Wittenmyer.
After being told Sunday night it was his turn again to rotate to the bench for Monday’s big series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, he awoke Monday to a report that the Reds have told teams they might be willing to trade the 2021 Rookie of the Year for the right young pitcher.
It’s a report multiple sources say is vastly overstated – falling into the category of there’s no such thing as an untouchable player – and led to conversations assuring one of the most respected players in the clubhouse of the slim-to-none chance he’ll be traded.
Well, so much for that.
