Infielder Jeimer Candelario has agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds, sources confirmed on Thursday. While the 30-year-old player was non-tendered by the Detroit Tigers in 2022, he rebounded with the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs in 2023, posting career highs in home runs (22) and RBIs (70).
Candelario’s experience will come in handy for the Reds as they team him up with a roster of young infielders Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Noelvi Marte, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Jonathan India.
The Reds will hope that Candelario’s wealth of experience will help to give them the edge they need to clinch the National League Central title. Reds owner Bob Castellini stated that he would be expanding the team’s payroll in an effort to improve on last season’s 82-80 finish and provide the struggling franchise with its first postseason appearance since 2013.
