Trade market for Nats’ Jeimer Candelario heating up

Jeimer Candelario is the Washington Nationals’ best trade piece ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Teams are lining up to call about the infielder.

Nationals president and general manager Mike Rizzo told MLB insider Jim Bowden that eight teams are vying for Candelario. Once the Nats get the right player to acquire, the club will “move fast” to complete the trade.

Candelario had an All-Star-worthy first half and was considered a snub. He’s cooled off some during the second half but remains a hot name in trade talks.

Candelario is hitting .258 with a .823 OPS through 99 games this season. He has 16 home runs and 53 RBI. But it’s his advanced metrics that stand out.

He’s batted third primarily in the lineup. Yet, when he bats cleanup he is hitting .286 with a .941 OPS. in 83 plate appearances, entering Sunday. He hits .345 with an OPS of .976 in eight plate appearances, fifth in the lineup.

In 95 plate appearances with runners in position, Candelario has hit .304 with a 1.001 OPS and 37 RBI. All numbers have made him an intriguing trade target for contenders.

Before joining the Nationals, Jeimer Candelario spent six seasons with the Detroit Tigers, where he developed into an everyday player. After hitting .297 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he led MLB with 42 doubles in 2021.

However, his production tapered off in 2022. He hit .217, and his extra-base hits dropped from 61 to 34. The Tigers non-tendered him this past winter, and he signed with the Nationals.

This season, Candelario has 48 extra-base hits, including 30 doubles. He has batted primarily third in the lineup.

As a team rebuilding, the Nationals took a feeler on Candelario, hoping he could develop into a trade asset. Judging by the words of Rizzo, signing Candelario was worth the investment.