Veteran infielder Jeimer Candelario is having a strong camp with the Angels and has been doing some drills at second base, reports Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. “We’re just seeing what our options are,” manager Kurt Suzuki said. “Candy’s been swinging the bat really well. He’s been playing really well.”
Candelario, 32, has some strong major league seasons on his track record but was hobbled by injuries in the past two campaigns. For what it’s worth, he has posted good numbers so far this spring, with a .333/.429/.708 batting line in 28 plate appearances. He won’t maintain a .467 batting average on balls in play forever but six of his eight hits have gone for extra bases.
Some skepticism towards that small sample of spring plate appearances would be warranted, especially after Candelario put up a line of just .207/.265/.394 over 2024 and 2025, but he battled injuries throughout most of that time. He had a combined slash of .254/.329/.437 from 2020 to 2023, which is what prompted the Reds to give him a three-year deal worth $45MM. Cincinnati responded to his struggles by releasing him, which eventually led to Candelario being in camp with the Halos.
If the Halos are thinking about giving him a roster spot, it makes sense to see what kind of versatility he can provide. He currently has no second base experience. He has only played the infield corners in his career. That goes for both the majors and the minors. The Halos have shortstop and first base spoken for, with Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel manning those positions, respectively.
Third and second base are more open. Yoán Moncada is theoretically the everyday third baseman but he has been very injury prone, especially lately. In his ten big league seasons, he only reached 132 games played in three of them, with the most recent instance coming back in 2021. The Angels have to operate under the assumption he will miss some time.
Second base is also a question mark. Christian Moore could be the answer but he has a .198/.284/.370 line in his career thus far and still has options. He has also been spending some time at third base in camp, so there’s some flexibility there. Vaughn Grissom and Oswald Peraza are former prospects on the roster but neither has clicked in the big leagues yet. Both are out of options and could get squeezed.
Candelario is competing for a roster spot with other veteran non-roster invitees like Adam Frazier, Chris Taylor and Nick Madrigal. If he can play a bit of second base, it would add to his appeal and could give him a boost in that competition. The Halos will use one bench spot on backup catcher Travis d’Arnaud. Another will go to a depth outfielder, perhaps Bryce Teodosio. That could leave two spots for the group consisting of Candelario, Grissom, Peraza, Frazier, Taylor, Madrigal and others.
Candelario already has one thing going for him in that he’s cheap. The Reds are still on the hook for paying him this year, the final season of that aforementioned three-year deal. If the Angels give him a spot, they would only have to pay him the prorated league minimum for any time he’s on the roster. The team seems to be dialing back payroll as they deal with a new broadcast revenue paradigm, so that’s surely an attractive element for them.
In a separate column, Fletcher provides an update on outfielder Josh Lowe, who has been battling left oblique soreness in camp. Suzuki said they will try to get him some game action as soon as Friday and suggested that should be plenty of time for him to get ramped up by Opening Day. Assuming Lowe avoids the injured list, he’ll be getting regular playing time in the outfield alongside Mike Trout, Jo Adell and Jorge Soler. Those four are expected to share the three outfield positions and the designated hitter slot.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images
The Angels thank St. Nick for Candelario being cheap.
Until they release him in June.
This reminds me of the scene in Moneyball when “Billy Beane” tries to convince Hatteberg that he can play 1st base. He turns to Ron Washington for confirmation that it’s doable and Wash says just the opposite.
Trying to move Candelario, a proverbial corner infielder, to a more prominent up the middle defensive position is SO Angels.
Good reference. A lot of people think first base is easy, BTW.
Ron Washington isn’t around the Angels anymore either!
First base is easy. Come on bro. It’s by far the easiest position in baseball. Playing in MLB is the most difficult thing in the world, I get that, but first base is by far hands down the easiest position to play.
How is this “SO Angels”?
Every single team does the same thing throughout spring training every year. Every tema needs players with versatility so they try different fringe players at new spots to see what sticks.
I get it people are unhappy with the Angels, but the complaints are becoming redundant. It seems as if people can’t wait for something to be posted just so they can trash the Angels.
@AngelsFan 1000% correct Angels are the MLBTR punching bag. I think season the Angels will right the ship and start looking like a true contender next year. You gotta crawl before you can walk. I’m so glad they hired Maddux as the PC and they signed Monah.
I would be happy with a 81 & 81 2026 season.
Let the insults begin.
Fan1972. One of your very best posts.
I know a crazy team that moved their MVP Right Fielder to Shortstop last year.
That same team used to have a catcher who would occasionally play 2B, and 3B who would moonlight at 2B, too.
Wild stuff.
They are not releasing him
Isn’t Yolmer Sánchez having a hot spring too?
Yup.
The only leg up Candelario has on anyone else is that the Angels have to pay him league minimum. He does provide insurance for when Moncada inevitably gets injured or if Schanuel needs a day off
The 2 Lowe bros were headed for great careers then one constantly gets injured and the other gets fat and out of shape.
Frazier is my guy. Lefty bat, doesn’t strike out a ton (Angels led all of MLB in Ks last year).
Moncada will miss half the year. If Candelario is smart he’ll stay in AAA to start the year, crush it in Salt Lake City, then get called up soon.
Moncada will not miss half the year. Geez. And candalerio will start in the angels. Not the minors. Plz know what your talking about before you post
You’re pretty pro Candy here. Hang onto that optimism. I really hope he does well.
But I felt that way two a few years ago when he was talking about barrels in the spring.
val – “Plz know what your talking about before you post”
HHJJ is one of the few guys on here who actually knows what he’s talking about.
thank you.
Moncada games played:
2025 – 84
2024 – 12
2023 – 92
2022 – 104
That’s 292 games played over the last four seasons for an average of 73 games per year. So he generally misses more than half the year. Last season he played almost exactly half the year.
Please know what you’re talking about before you post.
No, JJ knows his Angels.
Check out “CrashingthePearlyGates.com”.
See for yourself.
I believe JJ’s comment to be mostly sarcasm. We have to have a sense of humor being Angels fans, no?
Thanks. I actually run the Angels on SI page now but I’m at pearly gates about once per week.
Statistically Moncada does miss about half the year. I really hope he doesn’t but the only intelligent plan is to have a backup in place.
So your saying your AI w out telling us your not a real person
Nah, they actually hired real writers. I had a couple of interviews and everything with them.
You can even see I’m the same person in the videos of my interviews with Chris Cortez, Joel Hurtado, and Jeff Fletcher.
Moncada games played the last 4 years: 102, 92, 12, 84. That’s an average of 72.5 games a years. You’re right he will most likely miss more than half the games.
Enjoying the knuckleheads making fun of Jeff who have no idea who he is.
I like the idea of Frazier getting the reps at 2B. This would allow Moore to get a little more seasoning at AAA.
Salt Lake could have an infield of Kyren at 2B, Denzer at SS, and Moore at 3B.
All talented, but who could use some work.
Agreed. Helps the team now and can help the team later.
Add in Rada and AAA has a team worth following. Been a long while since that was the case.
Donovan Walton is another quality infield option.
Wow didn’t realize he’s only 32, thought he was a couple years older than that.
Couldn’t believe Reds paid him that
Hard to believe that the angels in 2026 will be like the 2002 angels, and win it all. I am sure that you will doubt that idea. However it is a good idea. It’s not a bad idea. I like madrigal, and I hope they keep Chris Taylor.
Not a chance. The Angels in 2021 were very competitive until late Aug until they finished 5-25.
I won a bundle on them in 2002.
Fangraphs has a great article on the Angels. In spite of great draft picks, they are getting worse. It’s a two headed snake that is killing the Angels. Both need to go.
By great draft picks I mean high draft picks. The Angels drafts for the last six years, have been horrid.
Fun fact, Josh Lowe is the all-time playoff SB% holder at 90.8%
Fun fact: Grissom is injured now. I wonder what could have caused that?