Detroit Tigers Former 6-Year Player Makes Sudden Decision About Future
Story by
Detroit Tigers Former 6-Year Player Makes Sudden Decision About Future
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 20: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles catches the throw to home plate before tagging out Jeimer Candelario #46 of the Detroit Tigers trying to score on Akil Baddoo #60's double in the fifth inning during a baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 20, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) Getty
TJ French·HEAVY
·
2 min read
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: Jeimer Candelario #46 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates after scoring off of a single hit by Jo Adell #7 during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 05, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) Getty
Detroit Tigers fans, do you remember the services of Jeimer Candelario?
Candelario played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers from 2017 to 2022.
Candelario was never designated for assignment by the team he most recently played for (the Los Angeles Angels), but he has earned the right to make a sudden decision about his future in MLB.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
More MLB on Heavy: 6-Year New York Mets Player Hits Free Agency After Braves Loss
Jeimer Candelario Hits MLB Free Agency
GettyANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 05: Jeimer Candelario #46 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates after scoring off of a single hit by Jo Adell #7 during the fifth inning of a baseball game against theSeattle Marinersat Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 05, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images)
According to the transactions tracker at MLB.com, 11-year MLB veteran Jeimer Candelario will test his lest in free agency.
"Fresh off a 3.2-fWAR, 22-HR season divided between the the Cubs and Nationals in 2023, the Reds handed Candelario athree-year, $45MMpayday in free agency. It was a regrettable move by the Reds, who released the switch-hitting Candelario in June 2025. He was only about halfway through the contract when the Reds cut ties. Candelario joined the Angels on a minor league contract last winter and played well enough in the spring to earn an Opening Day roster spot, but he didn't last long with the Halos."
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Very quickly hitting on Candelario's time in Detroit, he batted .243 over 590 games played (his most with any single team), and clubbed 65 home runs, 124 doubles, and posted an OPS+ of 99.
His bWAR in Detroit was 7.8 over six seasons. With all other MLB teams? Candelario has logged a bWAR of just 1.4.
