The Cincinnati Reds signed Jonathan India to a two-year contract extension last week. He could be on the roster for the duration of the deal, but the new contract also gives the Reds a chance to get more in return for India if they did decide to trade him in the future.
The guaranteed contract and range of salary now gives the Reds and other teams exact dollar figures. Most general managers will look more favorably on India now that they know his contract status.
Though the contract gives India stability and shows the Reds commitment to their young leader, this won't deter other teams from seeking to acquire him. The Minnesota Twins did this with Nick Gordon. They traded him to Miami after his contract was set for 2024.
Now that the Reds have done the work in negotiating pay, other teams will be more willing to discuss a potential trade.
From the Reds perspective, this isn’t an announcement that they are trading him, but looking at India’s current standing with the team, they must answer the question of where he provides the most value: in a Reds uniform or in a trade.
If he breaks out, while also showing he can play the outfield, he becomes a bargain. In the current MLB market, a strong bat that has the ability to play the infield and outfield, is worth much more than even the full value of his escalators at $7.05 million.
This contract extension is a smart move for both parties. India gets security and the Reds get future flexibility.
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