India grateful to remain a Red post-Deadline: 'I love it here'

CINCINNATI -- When the Trade Deadline expired early Tuesday evening, second baseman Jonathan India got through it once again with the outcome he had been hoping for.

“Another Deadline passed and I’m still a Red, which is a good feeling," India said Wednesday before Cincinnati was roughed up for a 13-4 defeat by the Cubs at Great American Ball Park. “I’m happy. I love it here. I’ve said that a million times. This place is a special place to be."

Cincinnati traded veterans Frankie Montas and Lucas Sims on Tuesday but India stayed put. But this was the second straight summer with his name featured in trade rumors. India also came up as someone who could possibly be moved this past offseason before avoiding arbitration by signing a two-year, $8.8 million contract. He is under club control through 2026.

When India's name surfaced in rumors during 2023, it caused enough stress to the point of distraction that the front office talked about it with him during the season and in the winter.

Although he endured an 0-for-15 stretch during the previous road trip ahead of the Deadline this year, India noted that he wasn't as bothered by hearing his name in rumors this time around.

“This year was totally different," said India, who went 0-for-3 on Wednesday. "But this year there was more truth to an actual trade. I think the Yankees were pursuing me and another team pursuing hard. I didn’t talk to the Reds at all before. I kind of just stayed out of it. I just wanted to play and perform and let everything take care of itself.

“I talked to them briefly yesterday and they said, ‘We don’t want to give you up.’ I said, 'Thank you.' It means a lot that they still want me here.”

President of baseball operations Nick Krall declined to characterize trade talks held about India, who has been a clubhouse leader since his 2021 National League Rookie of the Year season.

“I’m not going to comment on the market, but he’s been a player that’s been an impactful player for this team," Krall said. "He brings a lot of qualities to this team right now, and hopefully gives us our best chance to win this year.”

After not posting good results the first two months, India moved back into the leadoff spot he held in previous seasons. He soon began to thrive, as he batted .380 in June with 13 doubles -- with a streak of eight games with a double from June 23-July 2, tied for second most in the Major Leagues since at least 1900.

For the 52-56 Reds to get back into a serious playoff conversation, they must have more offensive consistency and get on a sustained roll. India, who batted only .207 in July, is among those who will be needed to step up and set the tone from the top of the order.

The Reds, who finished July with a 13-11 record, showed positive signs in back-to-back wins over the Cubs while scoring a combined 13 runs over Monday and Tuesday -- with India scoring three of them. But on Wednesday, they played from behind most of the night as Nick Lodolo struggled and the lineup produced six hits, with the three of their four runs coming on Jake Fraley's home run against Kyle Hendricks in the fifth inning.

Chicago took a quick 6-0 lead through three innings against Lodolo, including amassing four runs in the top of the third with five hits (three doubles).

Lodolo retired eight of 10 batters starting in the fourth and was one strike away from having a scoreless sixth inning before he allowed an Ian Happ two-run homer to center field.

In 5 2/3 innings, Lodolo tied a career high with eight earned runs allowed with a season-high 11 hits and six strikeouts. He has a 6.54 ERA over his past six starts after he had a 2.76 ERA through his first 11 starts of the season. Three trips to the injured list have interrupted his season.

“I’m definitely battling stuff," Lodolo said. "I feel like I’m getting it back though. I know results-wise tonight wasn’t great. I feel like overall pitching-wise, it’s actually getting there. My slider was significantly better than last week. Just keep putting it together.”

After an off-day on Thursday, the Reds will have two months of baseball remaining to try and become more competitive in the standings without the cloud of the Trade Deadline to contend with.

"We were in a better spot last year but in a similar area of where we stand in August," India said. "I think we put a little too much pressure on ourselves last year, so I think we just need to focus game-by-game and win, rather than thinking about the finish line.”