As the MLB General Manager Meetings continue, Shohei Ohtani remains the main topic of discussion.
However, that doesn’t mean other players aren’t also being discussed.
On Wednesday, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reported that the Toronto Blue Jays met with third baseman Jeimer Candelario’s representatives at the meetings, which MLB Network’s Jon Morosi went on to confirm.
The Blue Jays have met with Jeimer Candelario's representatives at the GM Meetings, source confirms @ShiDavidi report.
The switch-hitting 3B is coming off an .807 OPS and career-high 22 HR in 2023.@MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 8, 2023
As Morosi notes, Candelario is coming off a career-high 22 home run year, a season which he split between the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs.
Candelario is also a great fallback option for Toronto should four-time Gold Glove-winning third baseman Matt Chapman choose to sign elsewhere in free agency.
Originally signed by the Cubs in 2010 as an international free agent, Candelario debuted with the team in 2016. However, he was sent back down to the minor leagues before the playoffs, so he did not get to partake in Chicago’s World Series victory.
Chicago traded him to the Detroit Tigers at the 2017 Trade Deadline, where the third baseman spent the next five seasons, before signing a one-year deal with the Nationals before the 2023 season and being moved at the deadline.
In 746 career games, Candelario has 652 hits and 88 home runs. He’ll be just 30 years old heading into the 2024 season, meaning that Toronto or any other team that signs him could very well have him for the prime of his career.
