Reds rumors: This free agent infielder is strangely drawing interest from Cincinnati

Despite depth across the diamond, the Reds are rumored to be interested in another infielder.

Drew Koch

Chicago Cubs infielder Jeimer Candelario / Michael Reaves/GettyImages

These latest Reds rumors are a bit puzzling. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, free agent infielder Jeimer Candelario is drawing interest from the Cincinnati Reds.

Heyman also noted that the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Angels are interested in the corner infielder as well.

Candelario, who began the 2023 season with the Washington Nationals and was then traded to the Chicago Cubs, hit .251/.336/.471 in 140 games last season. According to FanGraphs, Candelario posted a wRC of 117 and was worth 3.3 fWAR.

Reds rumors: Free agent infielder, Jeimer Candelario, is strangely drawing interest from Cincinnati

The reason these Reds rumors are odd is due to the simple fact that Cincinnati is overflowing with infield depth. In fact, Reds Presiedent of Baseball Operations Nick Krall cited the infield depth as one of the biggest reasons that the club decided to part ways with Joey Votto.

The Reds infield stable currently consists of Jonathan India, Nick Senzel, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Spencer Steer, Noelvi Marte, Jose Barrero, Elly De La Cruz, and Matt McLain.

Jeimer Candelario is a fine player who put up good numbers in 2023 and can play both first and third base. However, that's a role that both Steer and Encarnacion-Strand can fill. Marte and De La Cruz, while not proficient at first base, both saw time at the hot corner last season.

These latest Reds rumors could be a precursor for bigger moves this offseason. If Cincinnati is truly looking to pursue a player like Jeimer Candelario, then perhaps one or two of the Reds infielders may be traded later this offseason.

The Cincinnati Reds need pitching, and with such a thin free agent market, other clubs may be willing to give up some arms in order to land one of the team's young infielders. This is certainly a story worth keeping an eye on as the offseason contitnues to unfold.

Drew Koch

Drew Koch has been an MLB Staff Writer since January 2024 and part of the FanSided Network since June 2018. Drew's contributions have been published on Blog Red Machine, Friars on Base, BoSox Injection, Lombardi Avenue, Wildcat Blue Nation, Motor City Bengals, and many other sites within the FanSided Network. When he's not cheering wildly for the Cincinnati Reds or the Kentucky Wildcats, Drew enjoys fishing, golfing, playing cribbage and other card games, listening to country and classical music, and spending time with his family and friends.