Is Keeping Candelario Cubs FA Priority?

When the Chicago Cubs dealt for third baseman Jeimer Candelario they saw him as a potential short-term answer at a position where they were struggling for consistency.

Now, with free agency approaching, could Candelario be a longer-term answer?

Candelario was among the Top 40 free agents this offseason as ranked by The Athletic as he came in at No. 27. The site projects that he could snag a two-year, $15 million deal.

When the Cubs acquired him in July, he had signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Washington Nationals. He ended up putting together a quality offensive season, as he finished 2023 hitting .251/.336/.471 (119 OPS+) with 39 doubles, 22 home runs and 70 RBIs.

Candelario is the definition of cheap power. He’s hit between 13 and 22 home runs five times since the 2018 season. As long as he’s healthy and in the lineup, he can be counted upon.

There are other third basemen worth pursuing, but the top free agent on the market, Toronto’s Matt Chapman, doesn’t have the versatility that Candelario does. The latter can play both corner infield positions, and he did so with the Cubs. He split his time between the two positions.

How the Cubs approach the offseason may determine whether they try to keep him or not. The Cubs reportedly want first baseman and outfielder Cody Bellinger back, but know that he’ll test the free agent waters. The Athletic ranks Bellinger at No. 6. If the Cubs are fortunate to bring him back, it will cost them.

It might also force them to make a decision about Bellinger’s position future. With a wave of young outfielders coming up in the Cubs’ system, including Peter Crow-Armstrong and Alexander Canario, the Cubs could slot Bellinger in as the full-time first baseman and in turn giving the young star a better chance to stay healthy.

That would mean Candelario would need to be the everyday third baseman. That wouldn’t be the worst scenario for the Cubs, who want improvement on that side of the diamond.

Candelario has a .969 fielding percentage in 632 career games at third base. The Cubs played Nick Madrigal, Patrick Wisdom, Christopher Morel and Miles Mastrobuoni at third base in 2022 as well.

While Madrigal had a .977 fielding percentage, he doesn’t have the power numbers one would expect from a third baseman. But he played there out of necessity, as Wisdom (.927) and Morel (.857 in just five games at third) had worse fielding percentages at the position.

Signing Candelario to a longer deal gives the Cubs steady defense at third, consistent power at the plate and a solid back-up plan at first base.