Jonathan India Trade Wouldn't Be Enough to Help Struggling Yankees Amid MLB Rumors

The struggling New York Yankees, losers of 21 of their last 31 following a season sweep at the hands of the across-city Mets, are interested in trading for Jonathan India from the Cincinnati Reds according to ESPN's Jorge Castillo.

That is, if the Reds fall out of playoff contention as that is the only way the team is willing to deal India, per the report.

Say the Reds do, and India becomes available, such a deal will not be the lifeblood reignites what has been one of the league's worst teams over the last month and a half.

The team's pitching, once believed to be one of its strong suits, has given up 45 runs to the Tampa Bay Rays and the aforementioned Mets since the All-Star break.

Gerrit Cole continued to struggle Wednesday, going 5.2 innings and giving up six earned runs on eight hits. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner is hardly the only problem with the Yankees' rotation and bullpen. Nestor Cortes (3.99 ERA) and Carlos Rodon (4.42) have struggled against opposing bats, too.

Add to that the fact that the team has given up the fifth-most home runs in the majors this season with 123, per MLB.com, and you have a snapshot of one half of the team's issues.

Offensively, the team is carried by their two superstars: Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, who carry .311 and .307 averages, respectively. Only Anthony Volpe is hitting over .250 otherwise and that is just barely (.251).

India would be an improvement in that regard, with his slash line of .271/.374/.415, eight home runs, and 40 RBI. His defense has improved over a year ago and he would be an instant upgrade over Gleyber Torres at that position, too.

Rolling up to the deadline and dealing for India, though, would hardly be the only noise the Yankees could make and think that everything would be right with the world. He is not an explosive bat like Soto or Judge and his defense, while better than a season ago, is more efficient than it is excellent.

The Yankees need another bat that can spark the offense when Judge or Soto is having an off night. They could use pitching depth, with the addition of another starter or a bullpen arm or two that can help retain leads.

The team has been helped in its AL East standing by an Orioles team that has been more streaky than anything this last two or three weeks, especially on the heels of two straight losses to a bad Marlins team. They are not out of it and have done just enough to stay in playoff contention.

If things do not turn around though, it will be a long second-half of the season for a team in the media capital of the United States, with plenty of headlines and talking heads questioning what is next for a team that was expected to contend for a World Series, not just luckily sneak into the postseason amid sub-par pitching and lackluster bats.