Yankees Bolster Infield with Jeimer Candelario
The [New York Yankees](https://www.mlb.com/yankees) are looking for options to strengthen their infield and have signed third baseman Jeimer Candelario to a minor league contract. Candelario has been assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, as announced by the affiliated team this Saturday. Candelario, 31, was released by the [Cincinnati Reds](https://www.mlb.com/reds) on June 23, midway through a three-year, $45 million contract he signed before last season. The decision came after Candelario posted a .707 OPS in 2024 and hit .113 with a .410 OPS in 22 games with the Reds, before going on the injured list in April due to a back injury.For the Yankees, signing Candelario is a low-cost bet on a player who recorded an .807 OPS just two seasons ago. The team is looking to find a third baseman to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base, his natural position. Candelario is the second veteran infielder the Yankees have signed to a minor league contract in the last three days; they previously agreed to terms with Nicky López on Thursday.The performance was poor enough that Cincinnati cut him on June 23, a move that Reds’ president of baseball operations Nick Krall described as a sunk cost.
Nick Krall
