The Los Angeles Angels are rolling the dice again, this time on veteran infielder Jeimer Candelario, who joins the club on a minor league deal. It’s the latest in a string of low-risk, high-upside moves as the Angels continue to sift through reclamation projects in hopes of striking gold.
Candelario, once a prized bat following a breakout 2023 season, will earn $780,000 if he makes it to the big-league roster. But whether he sticks or not, he’s still getting paid-thanks to the Cincinnati Reds, who owe him $13 million in 2026 and a $2 million buyout for 2027. It’s a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in this game.
After slashing .251 with 22 home runs and 70 RBIs across a strong 2023 campaign split between the Cubs and Nationals, Candelario landed a three-year, $45 million deal with Cincinnati. At the time, it looked like a savvy investment in a switch-hitting corner infielder just entering his prime. But the shine wore off quickly.
In his first year with the Reds, Candelario’s production dipped-he hit .225 with 20 home runs and 56 RBIs. Not terrible, but certainly not the level Cincinnati had paid for.
Then came 2025, and that’s when things unraveled. In just 22 games, he hit a paltry .113, managing only two home runs and 10 RBIs before the Reds cut bait.
He briefly latched on with the Yankees on a minor league deal but never made it back to the majors last season. Now, the Angels are hoping there’s still something left in the bat of the 10-year veteran.
Candelario’s career numbers-.237 average, 110 home runs, 384 RBIs-paint the picture of a player who’s had his moments, but consistency has eluded him. What gives him a shot in Anaheim is his versatility. He can handle both third and first base, and for a team looking to patch together depth and upside, that matters.
This is a classic low-risk move for the Angels. If Candelario flames out, they’re out next to nothing.
But if he rediscovers even a fraction of the form he showed in 2023, they might have themselves a valuable piece-without footing much of the bill. For a club looking to find its footing in a competitive AL West, it’s the kind of calculated gamble that could quietly pay off.