Cincinnati Reds, Jonathan India agree to 2-year, $8.8 million deal, avoid arbitration
The Cincinnati Reds reached an agreement with Jonathan India on a two-year contract that avoids by a matter of days what would have been the Reds' lone arbitration hearing of the offseason.
The deal guarantees the 2021 Rookie of the Year $8.8 million with the possibility of earning escalators that could take the total to $10.85 million. The deal pays India $3.8 million in 2024 and $5 million in 2025.
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Because India was in his first winter of arbitration eligibility, he would still be eligible for arbitration in 2026, barring an extension.
India, a key part of the Reds lineup and clubhouse, hit .244 with 17 home runs and a .746 OPS in a season limited to 119 games by a foot injury.
The team's second-most tenured position player is healthy as he enters camp.
The sides were $800,000 apart on a 2024 deal when negotiations ended at last month's deadline for filing arbitration figures. They appeared headed to a hearing next week, with India filing at $4 million and the club countering at $3.2 million.
India, the club's starting second baseman the last three seasons, is expected to shift to a hybrid role that might lead to playing mostly in the outfield this year after the success last season of a group of four rookie infielders who debuted last year.
The Reds also added veteran corner infielder Jeimer Candelario as their big free agent of the winter (three years, $45 million) to complement that group.
The hope is that Candelario and especially India will also cover the veteran leadership void left by Joey Votto's departure (Votto remained a free agent at the time of India's deal).
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds avoid arbitration with Jonathan India, ink 2-year deal
