The Reds announced Sunday that they’ve placed second baseman Jonathan India on the 10-day injured list due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot. The move is retroactive to Saturday. Outfielder Stuart Fairchild was recalled from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move.
After the move was made, India told Reds beat writers that he’s hopeful of requiring just a minimum stint (link via Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer). India acknowledged that he’s been playing through pain for some time but reached a point where it became untenable. “I can’t make this worse,” he said. “If it’s worse, I’m out the whole year.”
In 103 games this season, India is hitting .251/.336/.409 with 14 homers, 20 doubles and a dozen steals. That includes a swoon at the plate over the past couple months. India hit .290/.376/.440 for the season’s first two months, but dating back to Memorial Day weekend he’s limped to a .211/.292/.376 slash.
With India on the shelf, Goldsmith notes that Elly De La Cruz will likely play shortstop regularly, with Matt McLain taking the majority of the reps at second base and Spencer Steer slotting in at third base. That crop of standout young hitters has been the driving factor behind the Reds’ surprising surge into postseason contention in 2023, and the depth they provide gives Cincinnati the ability to withstand a hopefully short-term absence for the 2021 NL Rookie of the Year.
India’s name has surfaced in trade rumors over the past few weeks, with the Reds reportedly willing to consider offers on him as a means of acquiring immediate, controllable rotation help. That’s different, of course, than the Reds actively shopping India — and a deal has never seemed especially likely. Now that he’s on the injured list and dealing with a plantar fasciitis diagnosis, it stands to reason that the already slim chances of a trade involving India have dwindled even further.
Is this why CIN wanted to trade him or is this why no one wants to trade for India
Yes
Neither. He did the same thing last year, trying to play through injury instead if shutting it down and his numbers showed it. Sometimes you can’t play through stuff, but he’s a tough cookie. I get it.
It’s been obvious he has been dealing with something for a while now. Now we know what.
This One.. I completely agree with that. He fought his injuries to his detrimental last year. This is a good move.
Sit out as long as it takes. Not like reds are making any moves to actually try and contend.
Sometimes not making a trade is the best thing. The Reds are currently contending and have been for most of the year. They have multiple pitchers coming back from injury or ready to come up from the minors so I for one am very glad no trades so far esp as in today’s market you have to overpay for pitching.
Totally agree. If they could get a rental starter, even just an innings eater to replace weaver they would, but look at the prices right now, nothing worth it.
Maybe India goes in the winter, maybe CES contains to look woeful, or maybe it’s not a big deal next year with Joey retired if Marte n arroyo aren’t ready.
Sure one of CES or India or Marte + arroyo have to go but it doesn’t need to be tomorrow unless ur getting an ace.
Ir ionic ally, Marte and arroyo for Castillo would be best for both teams maybe
Except they are contending
Reds team ERA for July is a very respectable 3.59. Santillan healthy, Antone on rehab assignment (as well as Legumina), to be joined by Greene in less than a week. The smart money is to not trade prospects just because of the deadline. Perhaps picking up a veteran arm on a payroll reduction move will happen, maybe not, Krall is not reactionary. If there’s not a quality deal to be had, he will stand pat.
Rodriguez, Maeda or Quintana. In that order. Quintana you would still have next year at a reasonable $13 million.
lol. Without making moves they lead their division. Go figure.
Reds have been trying to trade him since they drafted him.
Duh…
Thanks for putting in extra time during this deadline period Steve! it is most appreciated!
I remember when this ruined Garrett Anderson’s career. It seems to be one of those injuries that plagues you from here to eternity. I hope I am wrong. Heal up, India
I get the mentality, but players need to get over the idea that they need to play through it. If you’re a pro in the top league you are the top .00000001% of the population in skill. If you’re at just 75% of your normal abilities you’re no longer the best option.
I say this as a Guardians fan that watched Jose Ramirez become mortal after injuring his thumb last year. This was his slash line in the two weeks after he missed a single game for it:
.235/.286/.353, a wRC+ of 81
Jose Ramirez went from one of the best third basemen in the game to a journeyman backup infielder.
In another instance, Roberto Perez elected to play through a broken finger. For about a month and half he played through, his offense cratered. He eventually had to go on the IL anyway. That dip in offense is what the team used to justify walking away from an affordable player option. He lost money because he tried to play through it.
Don’t play through it. Especially when you’ve got capable backups behind you. It’s just selfish- the right thing for your team is to let the healthy guy play because a healthy AAAA guy is probably better than an unhealthy you.
I agree with you about not trying to play through significant injuries but disagree India did it because he was being selfish.
It is not selfish if he let the team know. It is selfish if he withheld information. My guess is that they knew.
I hope that they keep India for 2024 and limit any trades for pitching to Noelvi or Collier.
Going through with playing when you’re not the best option is selfish. It’s not what people would traditionally think of as selfish, sure. But if you’re going out there when you’re not the best option because of an injury, you’re costing your team. Essentially putting pride over what’s actually best for the team.
Teams also are complicit in this. These teams could also simply insist their players take to the IL.
Of course you can trick yourself into thinking you’re sacrificing for the team this way. Playing through pain, it feels like what a soldier would do in a battle or something. You can be unintentionally selfish.
I always think Deion and Antonio Gates every time I hear turf toe.
David Cone just did a shout-out to the site on the air
The announcers for the Yankees/Orioles game just referenced this article on ESPN
Guess we figured out why the Reds were open to trading him…
No.. you obviously know nothing about this team.
He could be done for the year. This is rarely a quick heal.
As a Reds fan it’s terrible to say but this may be best case scenario….
The Reds are honestly are a better team with Elly at SS & McLain at 2B…. This allows them to deploy their best lineup without disrupting the team chemistry that everyone’s so worried about….
Once we show we can win the World Series this year without India on the field:) maybe we can unload him in the offseason without half our fan base having an absolute meltdown:)….
I’m just having a little fun…
I actually think India is a REALLY good player (when healthy) but I do think the middle infield battery of Elly & McLain is even better, which is going to be kind of a conundrum for the Reds going forward….
Trading India would be a “Biggie” mistake.
Votto will retire at the end of this year.
Steer plays a decent LF and 1B.
Stephenson will mostly catch and play a little 1B and DH.
Elly can play SS and McClain can play mostly 2B. India will spell McClain at 2B and mostly DH. CES at the corner.
Trade Noelvi or Collier for a starting pitcher in the off-season. Keep all of the current young position players.
That’s my take.
CES at 1B/DH if he hits at the ML level. Steer LF and Marte at 3B next season. Actually Steer can move around playing several positions.. If all the pitchers stay healthy and several young starting pitchers advance to the ML level next season, the Reds probably don’t need to make any significant trades. I would try to sign Sonny Gray as a FA if anything..
Lol nice play “Biggie mistake” well played!
There’s still questions about Marte & CES but I’m thinking they’re both going be good & both have a way higher upside than India….
Having said that, I thought it would be kinda cool to work India at 1B in the offseason (he came up as a 3B) so the transition shouldn’t be terrible & then have Votto kinda pass the reins to him as leader of the team playing 1B…
Still think our best options going forward are going to end up being:
Marte 3B
Elly SS
McLain 2B
Steer 1B
CES DH
Our entire infield would’ve came up as SS
Love the idea of Sonny in the offseason maybe even Chapman too if we believe he’d fit in….
Marte is/could be a future all-star. Not going anywhere.
Sounds like India pulled the old Bronson Anthony Arroyo trick.
PF is a tough injury to heal. Have dealt with it personally. You need rest for it, but need therapy as well. I would shut him down and get him healed. India is a really good player. The pressure to perform he has felt will go down with this line-up being so young and talented, which may help him do even better when healthy. Opponents will not be able to pitch around him to get to somebody else. Injuries will happen to other guys and everybody will be happy he is there.
I would keep him into next season and see if and how he fits once he has reestablished his health and value.
Plantar fasciitis is a tricky injury. It’s difficult to treat and diagnose. If a player claimed to have it but didn’t, it would be hard to prove wrong.
I bring this up because Evan Longoria had it a few years ago, right before the trade deadline and also a short time before he would retain 5/10 player rights to veto any trade. I don’t know if the injury was real or not but the timing was suspect, as it is now. Again, just speculation here but I don’t think India wants to get traded.
I would hope that’s not what happened. I mean it was looking less and less likely that he would be traded anyway given his numbers. I mean his numbers dip make a bit more sense if the injury is legit.
I first got it in both feet when I was age 31. I will be 75 next February. The key to solving Plantar Fasciiitis is stretching the achilles tendon daily. along with the plantar fascia tendon. That along with arch supports. Stretching the achilles tendon takes pressure off the plantar fascia tendon. Neither can be too tight. I have done a lot of walking over the years as I am an avid quail hunter and work outside a lot. The initial cure took several months and I have never looked back. I just religiously stretch daily and wear my arch supports.