The Cincinnati Reds and second-baseman Jonathan India agree to a two-year, $8.8 million extension to avoid arbitration.

Despite being hailed as the future of the Reds when he won the National League(NL) Rookie of the Year in 2021, there's been much speculation about where Jonathan India would land just three seasons later. Since the 2023 MLB trade deadline, India has been rumored as a potential trade piece for the Reds. However, Friday's news of the extension has put those theories to rest—at least for now.

Heading into his first year of arbitration-eligibility, the second-baseman filed for $4 million — right around what he’s worth. The Reds, in all likelihood, saw a lack of suitors for a trade, so they decided to avoid arbitration for the next two seasons and ink India to a two-year deal. He will see $3.8 million in 2024 and $5 million in 2025. He can also earn incentives that second season, based off of plate appearances and games started. Following this contract, India will be eligible for arbitration for one more year, before becoming a free agent in 2027.

Nobody could get enough of Jonathan India in 2021. There was no denying that he was the best rookie in the NL across the board. In 150 games, India slashed .269/.376/.459 with 21 homers and a 116 OPS+. The future looked bright in Cincinnati, even though the team looked to enter a rebuild. Who better to lead a rebuild, however, than the 2021 rookie of the year? India was set up to be one of the faces of a brand new core until some hamstring and foot injuries in 2022 and 2023, respectively, that shortened both seasons. This, paired with the emergence of newer, younger stars, has recently turned India into somewhat of an afterthought.

While Reds fans are excited to get their beloved second-baseman back, it does not necessarily help fix the Reds main problems — an oversaturated infield and pitching. In the 2023 season, Reds fans got to experience a number of memorable debuts. These debuts included names like Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Andrew Abbott and Noelvi Marte —all of which have the potential to have great Major League careers. Four of the five names listed are infielders, who all showed their potential in different ways. This is great for the Reds as an organization and shows an even brighter future than anyone could have imagined, but it leaves a big question mark when it comes to India.

While being a great ballplayer is the main get for the Reds, they also retained an amazing clubhouse presence in India. If the Reds believed there would be conflict from a lack of playing time or a negative presence in the dugout, they would have found a viable trade, but without much of a return, India is not a guy that a team just lets go of. His manager, David Bell, speaks very highly of him and discussed how India is willing to do whatever it takes to help the ballclub win. Although just entering his fourth season, he can still be a voice and a leader to the guys coming into their rookie and sophomore seasons to get the most out of them.

India looks to bounce back from the past two seasons and get a full season of playing time in. Although there is overcrowding in the infield, the competition could prove extremely benficial in making India, as well as the others, the best players they can be. While this smaller, two-year deal does not confirm India will not be traded in the near future, it does give him some breathing room so he can focus on making his craft and team better. The Reds have the necessary pieces to compete this season in the NL Central, and retaining India should play a significant role in that effort.