The Los Angeles Angels continue their offseason strategy of low-risk, high-upside moves, and their latest addition fits the mold. The club has reportedly agreed to a minor league deal with veteran infielder Jeimer Candelario, who will be invited to spring training. If he makes the big-league roster, he’ll earn $780,000 - a modest sum for a player with his resume, but one that makes sense given the financial backdrop.
Here’s the kicker: the Cincinnati Reds are still footing the bill. After signing Candelario to a three-year, $45 million deal before the 2024 season, the Reds designated him for assignment in 2025 and remain on the hook for his $16 million salary in 2026. For the Angels, this is essentially a free look at a player who, not long ago, was producing at a well-above-average clip.
Candelario’s 2023 season was the one that earned him that big contract. Splitting time between the Nationals and Cubs, he slashed .251/.336/.471 with 22 homers, 70 RBIs, and a 118 wRC+ - a strong showing that highlighted his ability to contribute from both sides of the plate. He was a switch-hitter with pop, a solid glove at the corners, and enough plate discipline to make him a real asset.
But 2024 was a different story. His production cratered across the board.
Over the course of the season, he hit just .207/.265/.394 while still managing to match his home run total from the year prior with 22. The power didn’t completely disappear, but the on-base skills evaporated, and his wRC+ dropped to 76 - well below league average.
The Reds, looking to move on, designated him midway through the year.
The Yankees gave him a shot, assigning him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but the results didn’t improve. In 61 games, he posted a .210/.303/.362 line - serviceable numbers for a depth piece, but not enough to warrant a roster spot heading into 2026. He elected free agency at season’s end.
Now, the Angels are taking a flier. And for a team looking to shore up its infield depth, this is a savvy move.
Candelario has experience at both first and third base, though first is likely the more realistic option at this stage of his career. He brings a switch-hitting profile that adds flexibility to the bench, and he’s historically fared better from the right side of the plate - batting .256/.324/.428 against left-handed pitching over his career.
With Nolan Schanuel and Oswald Peraza penciled in for key infield roles, Candelario offers insurance - much like the recently signed Yoán Moncada. Neither signing guarantees impact, but both provide options, and that’s exactly what the Angels need as they head into spring training.
There’s no real downside here. If Candelario doesn’t show enough in camp, the Angels can look to stash him in Triple-A Salt Lake.
But if he finds his swing again, even in a limited role, this could quietly become one of the more useful depth signings of the offseason. For now, it’s a wait-and-see - but in Anaheim, that’s exactly the kind of calculated gamble worth making.