Cincinnati Reds Release Jamer Candelario After Struggles

The Cincinnati Reds are making some tough financial decisions, with the recent release of veteran infielder Jamer Candelario. This comes just shy of halfway through his three-year, $45 million contract signed before last season.

“We need to treat this as a lost investment. Our focus should be on bringing in players who can contribute to winning,” said Nick Krall, the Reds’ president of baseball operations.

This season, Candelario played 22 games for the Reds before injuries sidelined him due to lumbar strain in late April. His performance this year was below expectations, with a batting line of .113/.198/.213.

In an attempt to bounce back, he had a 17-game stint in Triple-A Louisville, where he hit .238, with one home run and 13 RBIs. But it seems that revitalizing his career with the Reds wasn’t meant to be, as he was already nearing the end of his time with the team.

With younger players like Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Noelvi Marte recovering from injuries, space on the roster was limited for Candelario, especially as Cincinnati was improving, just 6.5 games behind the Cubs for the NL Central lead.

“It was obviously a hard call. Jamer is a fantastic person, and we originally signed him thinking he’d be our everyday third baseman. But things didn’t pan out, and we needed to focus on what would give us the best chance to win,” Krall explained.

Following Candelario’s release, the Reds will need to cover about $22.5 million remaining on his contract, a significant financial hit.

Despite the struggles this season, Candelario has had noteworthy achievements in the past. In 2021 with the Detroit Tigers, he led the league in doubles with 42 and finished with strong numbers, posting a .271/.351/.443 slash line. In 2023, he also managed 22 home runs, so there’s hope he could land on his feet again.