The Reds better have a strong stomach because theyre eating a lot of cash. Cincinnati designated veteran infielder Jeimer Candelario for a signment on Monday, almost halfway through his three-year, $45 million deal inked before last season. At the end of the day, you have to look at it as a sunk cost because you cant bring a player thats not going to help his team win, Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall told reporters. Cincinnati Reds infielder Jeimer Candelario Frank Bowen IV/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images This season, Candelario started 22 games for the Reds until landing on the injured list with a lumbar spine strain in late April. He hit .113/ KZ Okpala Jersey .198/.213. He was sent on a 17-game rehabilitation a signment with Triple-A Louisville, during which he hit .238 with just a single home run and 13 RBIs. Explore More Cincinnati activated Candelario from the 10-day IL, but hed already played his final games for the team. With younger infielders like Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Noelvi Marte almost back from injury, it seems there was not enough room for the older and underperforming Candelario, especially as the Reds have climbed to within 6.5 games of the NL Central-leading Cubs entering Mondays slate. Jeimer Candelario hitting a double while on the Reds. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect It was obviously a tough decision. Hes a great guy. We signed the contract because we thought he was going to come in and be our everyday third baseman. But at the end of the day, it just didnt work out, Krall said. We felt this would give us our best chance to win games to keep the guys we had here versus activating him. With the release of Candelario, the Reds will have to pay the player for the remainder of the contract, approximately $22.5 million, per MLB.com. The 31-year-old can at least point to his previous production in 2021 with the Detroit Tigers, he led the league in doubles with 42 and had an impre sive slash line of .271/.351/.443, andin 2023, he hit 22 home runs and 39 doubles between the Nationals and Cubs as a selling point to team in the hopes of getting picked up, but his 2025 numbers arent going to help. Tyler Herro Jersey