Yankees should slide perfect infield solution into Reds bullpen trade rumors

As the New York Yankees' season continues to spiral, the trade deadline may be the only beacon left to save them. It would behoove Brian Cashman to get a slightly early start; after all, the Yankees can no longer afford to waste games undermanned, and in a sellers' market, the prospect price is going to hurt regardless.

According to a report from Pat Ragazzo, it appears the Yankees have zeroed in on one potential partner: the Cincinnati Reds, who sent scouts to the Trop this week. Brian Cashman appears to be prioritizing Cincinnati's potentially available relievers, include Lucas Sims, Buck Farmer, and Brent Suter, all of whom are varying degrees of interesting.

If the conversation is going to continue throughout the All-Star break, why not expand it to include an ideal infield filler who just might be squeezed out of Cincinnati when Matt McLain returns anyway?

This isn't the first Jonathan India trade rumor, and it won't be the last. But it might be the best?

Yankees must add Jonathan India to Reds bullpen trade rumors

As The Athletic's Chris Kirschner noted this week, India ranks 16th among all qualified hitters in on-base percentage and rarely chases (99th percentile). Looking to solve your leadoff conundrum and second base issues in one fell swoop? India, controllable through 2026, would be your guy, if the Reds could be persuaded.

And ... not for nothing, but ... while two months of Gleyber Torres on the Miami Marlins makes absolutely no sense, two months of Gleyber Torres on the Wild Card contending Reds, filling in for India on a team in need of his services? That sounds like an opportunity. It also doesn't sound like something Cincinnati would outright reject if the right prospects were attached.

The Reds' bullpen could be full of silver, but swaying them to add India to the pot in exchange for, say, Torres, Everson Pereira and Henry Lalane, would represent a potential panacea on multiple fronts for these ailing Yankees. Now, if they could just fill two more infield slots with India clones, they'd really be golden.