News Update: Toronto Blue Jays now leading race to sign baseman.

There have been rumors surrounding Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India since the start of the offseason, and the Toronto Blue Jays could be a potential suitor.

The Toronto Blue Jays have shown interest in Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India, according to The Canadian Baseball Network’s Bob Elliott.

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported Saturday that there were multiple teams engaged in trade talks with the Reds in regards to India, which falls in line with his previous reports from back in November. India has been at the center of trade rumors since the summer, when Cincinnati was reportedly open to dealing him at the MLB Trade Deadline.

The Reds held onto India to close out the 2023 season, falling just short of an NL Wild Card spot with their second baseman in and out of the lineup due to injuries and the arrivals of top prospects. Infielders Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, Noelvi Marte and Christian Encarnacion-Strand all earned call-ups this past season, and they might just nudge India out of an everyday role heading into 2024.

The Blue Jays, on the other hand, didn’t have a consistent answer at second in 2023.

Whit Merrifield, Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal logged the most innings at second base for Toronto this year, but they were all utility men, rather than traditional second basemen. Merrifield is also a free agent.

And while Davis Schneider burst onto the scene when he first joined the Blue Jays in August, he lacks big league experience and notched just two hits in his final 39 plate appearances of the year.

India, on the other hand, has only ever played second base since reaching the majors in 2021. He won NL Rookie of the Year that season, hitting .269 with 21 home runs, 69 RBI, 34 doubles, 71 walks, an .835 OPS and a 4.1 WAR.

In the two years since, however, India has failed to live up to his debut campaign. The numbers he posted as a rookie were all career highs.

This past season, India hit .244 with 17 home runs, 61 RBI, 23 doubles, 52 walks, a .746 OPS and 1.4 WAR. The second baseman has also posted negative dWARs in back-to-back years.

India turns 27 years old in December. He has three years of team control remaining.