CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds have decided to part ways with Jeimer Candelario, their most expensive acquisition in the past six years. On Monday, prior to their matchup against the New York Yankees, the Reds announced that they had designated the injury-prone infielder for assignment.
Candelario joined the team in December 2023 after inking a lucrative three-year deal worth $45 million. With this move, the Reds must now address the nearly $23 million still owed to him, which includes $7,983,871 for the remainder of the current season, $12 million for the next, and a $3 million buyout option slated for 2027.
Manager Terry Francona acknowledged the challenges of delivering the news to Candelario. “It was hard to get a hold of him,” Francona shared. “General Manager Nick Krall eventually reached him and conveyed the difficult decision. I also tried to contact him, but understandably, it went to voicemail. It’s a tough choice to make, but we believe it’s a step towards improving the team.”
At 31 years old, Candelario had achieved a batting average of just .113, securing only 9 hits out of 80 at-bats in the 22 games he played this season. His playing time was further hampered by a lumbar spine strain since late April. He recently completed a rehab stint with Triple-A Louisville and had only returned to the main squad on Sunday.
In total, Candelario participated in 131 games during his tenure with Cincinnati, ending up with a .207 batting average. Meanwhile, the Reds have found reasons for optimism in the developing talents of Christian Encarnacion-Strand at third base and Spencer Steer at first base, contributing to their recent success of winning 10 out of their last 15 games.