India started in left field and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's spring game against the Guardians.

EDGE Analysis

India batted leadoff and homered in the bottom of the first inning. He's transitioning to a utility role that will mostly involve him playing the infield, but the club has exposed him to outfield reps during camp. This was India's second Cactus League start, but the first one was rained out after four innings Friday. India will mostly see time at the three infield base positions.

India started at first base and went 0-for-2 with a walk before rain cancelled Friday's spring game against the Dodgers. He flawlessly handled all chances in the field.

EDGE Analysis

India's spring was delayed by a foot injury that plagued him in 2023. He's shifting from second base to a utility role this season, which will impact his fantasy value. The position versatility is helpful, but a consistent path to at-bats is not guaranteed. The latter changed Friday when MLB suspended Noelvi Marte, who was the projected starter at third base, 80 games for violating the drug prevention and treatment program. That paves the way for India, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jeimer Candelario to get regular opportunities between first base, third base and designated hitter.

Reds manager David Bell said India (foot) is slated to make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Dodgers, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

India has been brought along slowly in Reds camp because he still wasn't completely recovered from the plantar fasciitis in his left foot that plagued him last season. It's not clear whether he's 100 percent yet, but he's at least feeling well enough to test out the foot in games. While he has played only second base to this point in his big-league career, India is slated to fill a utility role for Cincinnati this season.

Reds manager David Bell said Saturday that India (foot) won't be able to play in Cactus League games until March 7 or 8, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

India recently suffered a setback with the plantar fasciitis in his left foot, and it seems the Reds will take it slow as he progresses in his running program. Once he's healthy, India is expected to take on a utility role with Matt McLain (oblique) in line to become Cincinnati's primary second baseman.

India (toe) took grounders at second and third base during the early days of spring training, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. He's also been exposed to the outfield.

EDGE Analysis

India, who was Cincinnati's primary second baseman in 2023, was informed this offseason that Matt McLain (oblique) will see most of the opportunities at the keystone, leaving India to take on a utility role. That transition has begun. Reds manager David Bell said India will get opportunities at first base, second base, third base, left field and designated hitter. The 27-year-old India played third base in college, but the other fielding positions will be new.

India (foot) is expected to play three infield positions and possibly left field, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cincinnati's primary second baseman in 2023, India will shift to a utility role, as manager David Bell plans to deploy a middle infield of Matt McLain at second and Elly De La Cruz at shortstop. To keep India's bat in the lineup, the infielder will get acclimated to playing first and third base, though left field is seen as his most unlikely landing spot. For now, India is building up endurance in the foot he injured last season and is expected to be ready for Cactus League play.

India is going through a ramp-up progression after having a setback with the plantar fasciitis in his left foot this offseason, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

India missed nearly two months of action during the second half of the 2023 season with the injury and it popped back up again over the winter, affecting his offseason workouts. The 27-year-old took batting practice and fielded ground balls Tuesday and the foot "feels fine and he feels no pain," Reds general manager Brad Meador said, adding that India just needs to build up endurance at this point. While it does seem as though he's currently trending in a positive direction, the nagging injury and uncertain playing time outlook for India creates a cloudy fantasy forecast.

India signed a two-year, $8.8 million contract with the Reds on Friday to avoid arbitration, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

He can earn an additional $2.05 million in 2025 in incentives. India had been arbitration-eligible for the first time and will have one additional year of control in 2026. The 27-year-old slashed .244/.338/.407 with 17 home runs and 14 stolen bases over 119 contests for Cincinnati in 2023. India has played only second base to this point in the majors but is expected to be used at multiple positions in 2024.

India could see some playing time at first base and/or left field this season, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's looking like the Reds will hang onto India going into the season rather than trade him to alleviate some of their infield logjam. That would make for a difficult juggling act for manager David Bell as he looks to give everyone playing time, and it sounds like part of the solution could be to break India in at some new positions. To this point, the only position the 27-year-old has played with the Reds has been second base, although he did play plenty at third base and a little at shortstop in the minors.

India is the one arbitration-eligible player that the Reds couldn't come to terms with before filing, and the two parties will likely go to a hearing, as the Reds are a "file-and-trial" team, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

India filed for $4.0 million and the Reds filed at $3.2 million, so the two parties are not especially close. India faces a critical season -- this is the first year he's arbitration-eligible and has to compete with the likes of Jeimer Candelario, Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand for playing time. Some trade rumors regarding India have popped up from time to time, but nothing concrete has emerged. India has missed good chunks of time due to injury the last two seasons, and he hasn't come close to replicating his rookie year production (.269/.376/.459) over the last two campaigns.