Reds' Jonathan India reveals how close Yankees were to pulling off crucial trade

The New York Yankees' search for offensive upgrades, post-Jazz Chisholm addition, at the MLB trade deadline left Brian Cashman cold. Perhaps he "couldn't match up" in some instances, like with Jack Flaherty and the Tigers. In other cases, it appears his trade partners reneged instead.

While we may never know what Jack Curry was referring to when he indicated the Yankees were "pushing hard to finalize another deal" on Saturday afternoon, it seems likely that New York was talking to both the Rays and Reds, seeking (among others) Isaac Paredes, Yandy Diaz, Pete Fairbanks, and spark plug second baseman Jonathan India.

The Rays dealt Paredes, then played the Yankees and Astros off one another for Diaz, ultimately opting to keep him. The bidding process might not have matched their expectations. India, though, seems to be a different case entirely. According to the second baseman, he was hearing rumblings before the Reds had second thoughts, rededicating themselves to his leadership and pulling him off the market.

Will that still be true if infielder Matt McLain returns healthy and crowds the position again in the offseason? Who's to say? The Yankees should feel comfortable re-engaging. For now, though, India shared his side of the story when the dust settled and said it all. The Reds backed him, and there was very little Cashman could do to convince them to surrender.

Reds pulled Yankees trade target Jonathan India off the market

As India noted, after the deadline passed without incident, he knew his name was swirling this year more than ever before (and in the Yankees' direction). He also knew he was safe from the start.

“This year was totally different," India noted Wednesday afternoon. "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."

Were the Yankees "pursuing hard"? We can't know that without an eye into Brian Cashman's war room. Will India reach the market in the offseason? When McLain recovers, it's highly possible. For now, though, it seems the Yankees lost out on an OBP warrior through no fault of their own. The Reds, on the other hand, knew exactly what they had.