The Washington Nationals may have found their new third baseman.
This morning, it was announced that the team had signed Jeimer Candelario to a one-year deal.
According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, Candelario will earn $5 million plus an additional $1 million in incentives.
Candelario made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Chicago Cubs.
He was shipped to the Detroit Tigers in 2017 in the trade that sent left-hander Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila back to Chicago.
In 2021, Candelario led all of Major League Baseball in doubles with 42.
This past season, he hit just .217 with 13 home runs and posted a WAR of 0.6.
The Nationals announced the news on Twitter.
The Nationals are signing third baseman Jeimer Candelario to a 1-year deal.
Candelario led all of baseball with 42 doubles in 2021. pic.twitter.com/UqEmrVcccf
— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) November 29, 2022
Nats Sign Candelario
While Candelario’s stats for the 2022 season were less than stellar, he hit for a .271 average in 2021 and collected a total of 151 hits in 557 at-bats and 626 plate appearances.
In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the 29-year-old switch hitter posted a .297 mark at the plate.
The Nationals had a vacancy at third base entering the offseason.
Candelario gives them an extra option to compete for the starter’s job and claim the spot in spring training of 2023.
The veteran was non-tendered by the Tigers on November 17, which sent him into the free agent pool.
But the Nationals have found a role for him and moved swiftly to sign the switch-hitting infielder.
With his success in 2021, Candelario could be a candidate for a bounce-back season after a disappointing 2022 campaign.
Washington is still in the midst of its rebuilding phase, and adding Candelario proves to be a nice little bargain move for the team.
