The Los Angeles Angels are continuing their offseason trend of low-risk, high-upside moves, this time bringing aboard veteran infielder Jeimer Candelario on a minor league deal. It's a classic reclamation play - one that could quietly pay off if Candelario can tap back into the form that once made him a coveted bat in free agency.
Candelario’s deal comes with a $780,000 salary if he makes the big-league roster, but here’s the kicker: the Cincinnati Reds are still on the hook for most of the bill. After signing him to a three-year, $45 million contract following a strong 2023 campaign, the Reds will pay him $13 million this season and owe a $2 million buyout in 2027. For the Angels, that’s a low-cost lottery ticket with potentially solid upside.
Let’s rewind a bit. In 2023, Candelario put together a solid season split between the Cubs and Nationals, hitting .251 with 22 homers and 70 RBIs.
That performance earned him a big payday in Cincinnati. But the production didn’t carry over.
In his first season with the Reds, he dipped to a .225 average, still managing 20 home runs and 56 RBIs - not disastrous, but certainly a step back.
Then came 2025, and things unraveled fast. In just 22 games, Candelario hit a rough .113 with two home runs and 10 RBIs before being released. He latched on with the Yankees on a minor league deal but never made it back to the majors.
Now, he gets a fresh start in Anaheim, where the Angels are clearly hoping there’s still something left in the 30-year-old’s bat. Over a decade in the majors, Candelario has hit .237 with 110 home runs and 384 RBIs. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, his versatility - being able to play both third and first base - gives him a real shot to carve out a role if he performs in spring training.
For the Angels, it’s a no-risk move with potential reward. They’re not banking on Candelario to be a cornerstone, but if he can find even a glimpse of his 2023 form, he could be a valuable piece - and one they’re barely paying for. The Reds, meanwhile, are footing most of the financial burden, which makes this a savvy depth play for a team still trying to piece together a competitive roster.
At this stage in his career, Candelario is fighting for another shot. And if there’s one thing baseball has taught us time and again, it’s that players with something to prove can be dangerous. The Angels are betting on that hunger - and for the price, it’s a bet worth making.