The New York Yankees have signed former Cincinnati Reds infielder Jeimer Candelario to a minor league contract, according to YES Network’s Conor Foley. He will report to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The Reds released the veteran infielder in June after he hit just .113 with two home runs in 80 at-bats while injuries limited him to just 22 games this season. It was a noteworthy move, considering the 31-year-old was in the second season of a three-year, $45 million contract he signed with Cincinnati prior to the 2024 season.
Candelario’s most recent Triple-A numbers aren’t all that impressive, either. He was placed on the injured list in April with a lumbar spine strain, and his minor league rehab assignment consisted of 15 games with Triple-A Louisville, where he slashed a rather forgettable .211/318/.333.
Candelario, a veteran of 880 Major League games, did contribute 20 home runs in his first season with the Reds last year. However, his contract will otherwise be remembered as a massive bust for Cincinnati. He will now get a chance to redeem himself and rediscover his swing in the Yankees’ farm system. If he can bounce back to his pre-2025 form, he may be able to find his way onto the Yankees’ 26-man roster as infield depth option down the stretch this season.
Yankees sign maligned former Reds infielder Jeimer Candelario amid scramble for third base solution
Candelario is the second veteran infielder to sign a minor league deal with the Yankees this week. He joins 30-year-old Nicky Lopez, who reported to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre over the weekend. It’s a troubling trend, as each signing makes it seem less likely that New York will turn to the trade market in their pursuit of a legitimate upgrade to their infield.
In an ideal world, an upgrade at the hot corner would allow current Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to move to second base and relegate sputtering second baseman DJ LeMahieu to a bench role. For the time being, though, New York appears to be content stockpiling veteran non-roster depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and hoping for the best.
