In a surprising move, the Cincinnati Reds today designated corner infielder and designated hitter Jeimer Candelario for assignment.
Candelario was due to return from his rehab assignment at the Triple-A Louisville Bats today, where he had been working to recover from a back sprain that had kept him out of action for two months. He had joined the Reds in the 2023 offseason, signing a three-year, $45 million contract to provide some veteran power hitting to pair with the young middle infield star that is shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
For that $45 million, though, the Reds got only 22 home runs. And now, they have cut him entirely, despite having half of his contract still left to run.
Not The Signing The Reds Had Hoped For
Candelario’s first season with the Reds was a disappointment. He stayed relatively healthy, recording 427 at-bats across 112 games, yet he hit for only a .707 OPS and a 89 OPS+, with his 20 home runs coming on a mere .279 on-base percentage, and a drop-off on the defensive end. Prior to this season’s trip to the IL, things were going no better – Candelario was batting just .113 with a career-high 31.9% strikeout rate in 91 plate appearances, and the rehab stint should no sign of his struggles abating.
Furthermore, the spot Candelario was supposed to fill never opened up in the first place. Plans for Spencer Steer to convert to the outfield full-time, thus creating space in the infield for Candelario, have not been put into practice. Although he was primarily a left fielder last season, Steer has played almost exclusively first base this year.
The trade of Jonathan India to the Kansas City Royals in the winter of 2024 was designed to open up more time in the cluttered Reds infield, but Candelario was not able to take advantage. He had been bested in the one-dimensional corner slugger role by Christian Encarnacion-Strand, whose power surge upon his own return from the injured list earlier this month teased at the greater potential that he offers.
Nevertheless, it is a surprise that the Reds would choose to cut a player with so much money still owed to him. Technically, Candelario can still be claimed off of waivers, getting the Reds off the financial hook. But precisely because of the $22 million still outstanding, he almost certainly will not be.
From Luxury To Sunk Cost
The Reds will be hoping that the imminent return of Noelvi Marte – who had been having a much-improved 2025 after the lost season of 2024 – will give them the boost at the plate that they need. Marte, only 23 years of age, and Encarnacion-Strand, 25, now have the run on the time at third base for the foreseeable future, without the sunk cost of Candelario in their way.
That said, the Reds would have welcomed any contributions at the plate that they could get. Although second baseman Matt McLain’s struggles as he returns from the missed 2024 season seem to finally be abating, the Reds have been suitably short-handed in the infield that they have had to give an oversized role to utility man Santiago Espinal, while also requiring the help of Garrett Hampson and Connor Joe at times. Even with the De La Cruz/Marte/Steer/McLain/Encarnacion-Strand unit at the major league level already, along with Sal Stewart, Edwin Arroyo and Cam Collier to come, the Reds still needed good infielders.
Then again, the signing never made all that much sense. With a young infield on the way yet obvious shortcomings in the outfield, the Reds spent what money they had on a corner infielder who at best would have been a luxury. And it turned out far worse than that.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Reds Cut Player They Still Owe $22 Million To appeared first on Heavy Sports.