CINCINNATI -- The Reds parted ways with their main free-agent signing from two offseasons ago on Monday, when infielder Jeimer Candelario was designated for assignment after being activated from the 10-day injured list.
Candelario, 31, was signed to a three-year, $45 million contract on Dec. 18, 2023, their biggest free agent addition since before the 2020 season. But with the Reds playing better for the past several weeks and getting back into postseason contention, there was no room for a player who has largely struggled since coming to Cincinnati.
“It was obviously a tough decision. He’s a great guy. We signed the contract because we thought he was going to come in and be our everyday third baseman. But at the end of the day, it just didn’t work out," president of baseball operations Nick Krall said. “We felt this would give us our best chance to win games to keep the guys we had here versus activating him.”
The switch-hitting Candelario batted .225 with a .707 OPS and 20 home runs in 112 games last season before missing the final six weeks with a fractured toe.
This season, Candelario batted .113 with a .410 OPS and two homers in only 22 games before going on the IL in April with a lumbar spine strain. During his rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville, he batted .211 in 15 games before being returned to Cincinnati on Sunday.
Candelario primarily played first base and third base but was not a plus defender. He was also eclipsed by Spencer Steer, Santiago Espinal and Christian Encarnacion-Strand among others at the corner infield spots this season.
“Before he got hurt, he had lost a little playing time and he was having a tough time with that," manager Terry Francona said. "Coming back now, there wasn’t an avenue for playing him every day.”
Only halfway into his deal, the Reds will owe Candelario approximately $22.5 million, which is the most money they've ever had to eat on a remaining contract. It eclipsed the $22 million owed to third baseman Mike Moustakas before his release in January 2023 with $22 million owed on a four-year, $64 million contract.
“At the end of the day, you have to look at it as sunk cost because if he’s not going to help you, you can’t bring a player that’s not going to help this team win," Krall said.
Before the decision was made to move on from Candelario, Krall consulted with principal owner Bob Castellini.
“I talked to Bob about it that this was a move we were looking at last week," Krall said. "We ended up talking about it and this is the best move for the organization.”
Parting with Candelario came on the same day the Reds added No. 1 prospect Chase Burns (No. 11 overall) to the big league taxi squad ahead of his Major League debut on Tuesday vs. the Yankees. Both moves sent the same message.
“This is a statement of intent. I think bringing Chase Burns is a statement of intent," Krall said. "We want to win games. We felt these are the moves that gives us the best chance to win games and that’s what we’re trying to do.”