Angels Outright Jeimer Candelario to Triple-A Salt Lake

The Los Angeles Angels have officially outrighted Jeimer Candelario to Triple-A Salt Lake after designating him for assignment earlier in the week. The 32-year-old infielder is now expected to either accept the assignment or walk away as a free agent, though the team has not confirmed his decision.

Candelario arrived in camp as a non-roster invitee and appeared in seven games for the Halos during the regular season. He went 2-for-18 at the plate with eight strikeouts. While he showed some power during Spring Training with four home runs in exhibition play, his struggles continued in the regular season. Over the past two-plus seasons, he has hit .204/.263/.389 in 574 plate appearances, a sharp decline from his previous four-year track record.

The veteran signed a three-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds over the 2023–24 offseason after posting a .251/.336/.471 line in 2022. However, injuries and inconsistent production have derailed his performance. Candelario spent time on the injured list with a broken toe and a lumbar spine strain and played through knee discomfort during the 2024 season. After being released by the Reds, he hit .203/.289/.357 in 61 Triple-A games with the Yankees to close the 2025 season.

The Angels are currently seeking consistent production at second and third base. Adam Frazier, Oswald Peraza, and Vaughn Grissom are rotating at second, while Peraza is also being considered as a defensive upgrade at third base over the struggling Yoán Moncada. Candelario's departure opens up roster flexibility as the team continues to evaluate its infield depth.

The Angels have until the end of the month to finalize Candelario's status. If he declines the outright assignment, he will become a free agent and must clear waivers to sign with another organization.