The Cincinnati Reds have reportedly agreed to a deal with third baseman Jeimer Candelario, pending a physical. The deal, worth $45 million guaranteed over three years with a club option for a fourth year that could bring the total to $60 million, positions the 30-year-old as one of the top free agents of this offseason.
Candelario is coming off a strong season, in which he posted a combined .251/.336/.471 batting line with 22 home runs, 39 doubles, three triples, and an 8-for-9 showing in stolen base attempts. This production came in a season split between the Nationals and the Cubs.
Despite a rocky start to his career, Candelario has bounced back in the past few seasons, playing at a roughly three- to four-WAR pace in three of his past four seasons.
While the Reds were an unexpected fit for Candelario, given their young infield talent, they have been connected to him for several weeks. The team may look to leverage their infield depth to address other areas of need on the roster, such as pitching upgrades.
The signing of Candelario only boosts the Reds’ projected payroll to $86 million for 2024, leaving plenty of room to make additional moves to strengthen the team after a promising 2023 season.
If the deal is finalized, Candelario’s addition to the Reds lineup could be a significant move as they look to contend for a postseason spot in the upcoming season.