Reds exec Nick Krall sends Jeimer Candelario packing with brutal parting shot

Reds fans were stunned on Monday after Jeimer Candelario was activated from the injured list and unceremoniously sent packing. The Cincinnati Reds designated Candelario for assignment despite still owning him well over $20 million.

Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall told reports following the move, “You have to look at it as a sunk cost if he’s not going to help you. We’re in a better spot with the players we have here.”

Those are not the type of words typically uttered by the Reds' executive following a transaction like that. Krall, who is usually quite complimentary of parting players, didn't have such kind words for Candelario. This could be a signal that there was something deeper going on behind the scenes.

Reds exec Nick Krall sends Jeimer Candelario packing with brutal parting shot

The Reds signed Candelario to a three-year, $45 million deal in December of 2023. The veteran was supposed to be a uniting force in the clubhouse and help fill the leadership void left when the Reds refused to exercise Joey Votto's club-option for the 2024 season.

Instead, Candelario failed to duplicate the level of success he had following his trade to the Chicago Cubs in 2023, and became the target of much anger from the Reds fanbase. The Cincinnati faithful know good and well that Bob Castellini and Reds ownership don't spend a lot of money, so when a high-dollar free agent struggles, there's little tolerance for it among the fanbase.

Candelario, who rode a hot-steak for about four weeks last summer, hit just .225/.279/.429 during his first season in Cincinnati. But Reds Country is a forgiving group, and the fans were hopeful that after a few months off this past winter, Candelario would return in 2025 ready to live up to the contract he signed.

Unfortunately, he did the exact opposite. Candelario reminded Reds fans why they hated the signing so much in the first place. In 22 games, he hit just .113/.198/.213 and landed on the IL with a back injury. Reds fans were dreading his return after a 15-game rehab stint in Triple-A, but Krall threw everyone — Candelario included — a curveball when it was announced the infielder was DFA'd.

Krall later called Candelario's contract a mistake and told Cincinnati reporter Charlie Goldsmith, “Would we have used the money differently this offseason? Yeah we might have.” That's not necessarily what Reds fans wanted to hear.

Cincinnati still owes Candelario the remainder of his contract, which included a club-option with a buy-out for the 2027 season. This is just another, in a long line of free agent mistakes the Reds can't continue to make.

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