Is Second Baseman Jonathan India A Fit For The Brewers?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Jonathan India, 2021 National League Rookie of the Year, is likely to be put on the trade block by the Reds. Cincinnati fielded offers on India at last year's trade deadline but ultimately, nothing came of it.

Seeing how the Brewers and Reds are division rivals, lining up a trade is tricky. India is entering his first year of arbitration in 2024 and will not become a free agent until after the 2026 season. Any trade for India likely means that Willy Adames will be dealt, allowing Brice Turang to slide over to shortstop while India takes second base.

The Reds need pitching in a bad way. It's hard to see the Brewers giving up any of their young pitching for a position player while their true roster excess is in the outfield. But if the Reds are interested in one of the Brewers' young outfielders, a deal makes sense for both teams.

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[sveumrules]

No thanks on India.

Among 27 second basemen with at least 1,500 innings since 2021 he is 26th in DRS (-21) and 27th in OAA (-23).

That puts him in the bucket where he pretty much has to hit for a 120 wRC+ to have any value.

He’s at 960 PA of 98 wRC+ shaking out to 1.7 WAR since his ROY campaign.

[Brock Beauchamp]

5 minutes ago, sveumrules said:

No thanks on India.

Among 27 second basemen with at least 1,500 innings since 2021 he is 26th in DRS (-21) and 27th in OAA (-23).

That puts him in the bucket where he pretty much has to hit for a 120 wRC+ to have any value.

He’s at 960 PA of 98 wRC+ shaking out to 1.7 WAR since his ROY campaign.

How did I not know he was such a butcher at second? Yeah, that doesn't fit the Brewers' MO at all.

[Harold Hutchison]

India is a Brewers draft pick who "got away" from the team. I'd give him a look as insurance given Turang's offensive struggles. He could also be a platoon partner with Tyler Black at third and could take some DH at-bats as well.

As for who to offer? Either Tyrone Taylor (a solid outfielder similarly to India in service time) or a package of Blake Perkins, Elvis Peguero, and minor-league SS Kevin Ereu (with the latter package as my preference).

 

[wiguy94]

Don’t think it really makes sense considering pitching is not currently looking like a strong suit for next year and I’d imagine the Reds want MLB ready pitching. Doubt we would trade Gasser for India. 

[wiguy94]

39 minutes ago, clancyphile said:

India is a Brewers draft pick who "got away" from the team. I'd give him a look as insurance given Turang's offensive struggles. He could also be a platoon partner with Tyler Black at third and could take some DH at-bats as well.

As for who to offer? Either Tyrone Taylor (a solid outfielder similarly to India in service time) or a package of Blake Perkins, Elvis Peguero, and minor-league SS Kevin Ereu (with the latter package as my preference).

Why would the Reds want that type of trade?

[TURBO]

59 minutes ago, clancyphile said:

India is a Brewers draft pick who "got away" from the team. I'd give him a look as insurance given Turang's offensive struggles. He could also be a platoon partner with Tyler Black at third and could take some DH at-bats as well.

 

 

Has India ever played 3B in the majors?  Minors?

[Harold Hutchison]

25 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Has India ever played 3B in the majors?  Minors?

Third base and shortstop experience in the minors and in college, per Baseball Reference.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=india-000joh

 

[sveumrules]

40 minutes ago, clancyphile said:

Third base and shortstop experience in the minors and in college, per Baseball Reference.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=india-000joh

 

So last played 3B at AA in 2019 with zero innings anywhere other than 2B since.

Some adventurous team might be willing to try India at 3B after a five year, two level layoff at the position but I highly doubt it would be the Brewers giving up assets to roll those dice.

[brewers888]

This looks like some lazy reporting with India not being the Brewers type of player and the team almost certainly being unwilling to deal the pitching that Cincy will want.

[TURBO]

1 hour ago, sveumrules said:

So last played 3B at AA in 2019 with zero innings anywhere other than 2B since.

Some adventurous team might be willing to try India at 3B after a five year, two level layoff at the position but I highly doubt it would be the Brewers giving up assets to roll those dice.

Plus, he isn't good at 2B defensively, I can't imagine he'd be any better at 3B.

[jay87shot]

If the price was like Taylor or Houser and a prospect I would say sure. However I have been hearing analyst saying they could get young #3 type starters (Matt Manning, Bryan Woo, Dodgers young guys, etc.). No thanks

[TURBO]

43 minutes ago, jay87shot said:

If the price was like Taylor or Houser and a prospect I would say sure. However I have been hearing analyst saying they could get young #3 type starters (Matt Manning, Bryan Woo, Dodgers young guys, etc.). No thanks

Given the state of our current rotation, I don't think we can afford to trade Houser.  This saddens me.

[jay87shot]

1 hour ago, TURBO said:

Given the state of our current rotation, I don't think we can afford to trade Houser.  This saddens me.

My guess is we will add guys, either from trades of Burnes, Williams, Adames, other or sign a cheaper vet or two. 

[Matt Breen]

On 11/12/2023 at 11:50 AM, TURBO said:

Has India ever played 3B in the majors?  Minors?

India played mostly at 3B in college and the minors. He was moved to 2B when he reached the majors since the Reds had Eugenio Suárez at 3B. 

Scouting reports - about his defense - coming out of college and from his time in the minors were generally solid. A good arm and average fielding - certainly enough to play 3B in the pros. Here's a quote from the 2020 MLB Pipeline scouting report: 

"Defensively, he's played third base almost exclusively as a pro, where his arm, footwork and range allow him to be an above-average defensive presence at the hot corner." 

I have no clue how he would look now. Obviously, his stint at 2B hasn't been great - so perhaps he's regressed. And I believe he's had some injuries - I think his foot - and maybe that's limited his defense.