DETROIT — Former Detroit Tigers infielder Jeimer Candelario has signed a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Angels, the New York Post reported Tuesday.
Candelario, 32, is trying to work his way back to the big leagues after the bumpiest stretch of his career.
Candelario spent parts of six seasons with the Tigers, primarily as a third baseman, before being non-tendered after the 2022 season. He then signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Washington Nationals, who traded him to the Chicago Cubs at the 2023 deadline for two prospects.
Candelario originally came up through the Cubs’ minor league system and was traded to the Tigers at the deadline in 2017 along with fellow infield prospect Isaac Paredes in exchange for catcher Alex Avila and left-handed reliever Justin Wilson.
The deal involving his son turned out to be perhaps the best trade of former general manager Al Avila’s tenure with the Tigers.
Candelario was Detroit’s best offensive performer in 2020 and 2021. But like many of his teammates, he struggled in 2022, hitting just .217 with a .633 OPS (83 OPS+) in 467 plate appearances. After leading the league with 42 doubles and hitting 16 homers in 2021, his slugging percentage dropped to .361 in 2022.
He bounced back in 2023, hitting .251 with an .807 OPS (119 OPS+) in 576 plate appearances between the Nationals and Cubs. He totaled 22 home runs and 39 doubles.
That production earned him a three-year, $45 million deal with the Cincinnati Reds that went south almost immediately.
Candelario hit .207 with a .660 OPS (76 OPS+) in 554 plate appearances over two seasons, and the Reds paid about $22.5 million to release him last summer rather than reinstate him from the injured list.
Candelario latched on with the New York Yankees on a minor-league deal but never got a call-up. Now he’ll try to hit his way back to the big leagues with the Angels.