Candelario gets $3 million signing bonus as part of $45 million, 3-year contract with Reds
Chicago Cubs' Jeimer Candelario celebrates his single off Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Ben Lively, after joining the Cubs in a trade with the Washington Nationals, during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Chicago. Candelario has agreed to a $45 million, three-year contract with Cincinnati, giving the Reds a surplus of infielders that could lead to another move. A person familiar with the negotiations confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press on Thursday morning on condition of anonymity because it was pending a physical. The contract includes a club option that could take the value to $60 million over four years. Credit: AP/Charles Rex Arbogast
CINCINNATI — Third baseman Jeimer Candelario gets a $3 million signing bonus as part of his $45 million, three-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds, a deal that includes a 2027 team option and could be worth $60 million over four seasons.
Candelario has salaries of $12 million this year, $15 million in 2025 and $12 million in 2026, and the Reds have an $18 million option for 2027 with a $3 million buyout.
As part of the agreement announced Dec. 12, Candelario will donate 1% of his salary each season to the team charity.
Candelario played for Washington and the Chicago Cubs last year, batting .251 with 22 homers and 70 RBIs in 140 games. The switch-hitter also had 39 doubles.
A New York City native who turned 30 on Nov. 24, Candelario can play first and third base. He also could be part of Cincinnati’s lineup as a designated hitter.
Right-hander Frankie Montas, whose $16 million, one-year contract was announced Tuesday, can earn an additional $300,000 in performance bonuses for starts in 2024: $100,000 each for 18, 20 and 22. Montas has a $14 million salary this year, and his deal includes a $20 million mutual option for 2025 with a $2 million buyout.
He would get $100,000 bonuses for making the All-Star team, winning a Gold Glove or Comeback Player of the Year, or for World Series or League Championship Series MVP. He would get $250,000 for winning the Cy Young Award or MVP, $150,000 for finishing second or third, and $100,000 for fourth or fifth.
Chicago Cubs third baseman Jeimer Candelario reaches for a grounder by Pittsburgh Pirates' Endy Rodriguez, who was out at first during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. Candelario has agreed to a $45 million, three-year contract with Cincinnati, giving the Reds a surplus of infielders that could lead to another move. A person familiar with the negotiations confirmed the agreement to The Associated Press on Thursday morning on condition of anonymity because it was pending a physical. The contract includes a club option that could take the value to $60 million over four years. Credit: AP/Matt Freed
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