Cubs Trade for Jeimer Candelario

The Chicago Cubs have just traded for Jeimer Candelario!

Talk about the Cubs getting aggressive at the trade deadline. Jed Hoyer and the front office just went out there and got the best rental bat in the market. Candelario, 29, has been a good hitter all year long with the Washington Nationals, posting a 121 wRC+ with 16 home runs in 99 games this season.

According to Bleacher Nation’s Michael Cerami, the Cubs are sending a pair of prospects to the Nationals.

Initial thoughts are, this seems fair for both sides.

The Cubs needed to use the pitching depth in the system to their advantage and they did. This doesn’t hurt the organization losing left-hander DJ Herz. I love Kevin Made’s defense, he’s still only 20, so plenty of time for his offense to come, but this seems like a normal trade for the top rental bat available in the trade market. The Nationals are hoping one of those two dudes pan out eventually, while the Cubs see a path to make noise this year.

Made was the 14th ranked prospect in the Cubs minor league system according to MLB Pipeline, while Herz was ranked 16th.

But the bigger point to this trade specifically is that the Cubs really do have a loaded farm system. The depth is as good as it’s ever been and for a lot of guys, they were going to be available after 2023 anyway.

So, the Cubs have finally added a legit bat who can hit from both sides at either corner infield spot.

Candelario has a slash line of .258/.342/.481, in 419 plate appearances this season. The switch-hitter is crushing the ball more than he ever has during his career, posting a .223 ISO.

The Cubs have officially announced the trade.

The former Cubs prospect has rebounded from a tough 2022 season, when in fairness to Candelario, offense was down across the board and he was playing in a brutal environment with the Detroit Tigers. Prior to last year, though, he was a consistent player. From 2018-21, the switch-hitting corner infielder slashed .244/.332/.412, with a 103 wRC+ and averaged about a 2 fWAR each season.

So far in 2023, Candelario has been much better against right-handed pitching, posting an .875 OPS against righties compared to a .702 OPS vs. lefties. However, during his numbers on both sides of the plate are closer.

Career Platoon Splits
vs. RHP: .236/.324/.406
vs. LHP: .263/.327/.429

The switch-hitter has a 21 K% and 8.6 BB% in 2023. He’ll play first base, third base and can also give the Cubs another DH option.

So, who’s gonna be out of the picture for the Cubs now? It might seem that Trey Mancini is the obvious answer based on his production this year, but it’s also tough to see the Cubs completely dump that contract right now. Meanwhile, the Cubs have faced back-to-back left-handed starting pitchers and Patrick Wisdom has not been in the lineup. Is he injured or are the Cubs close to a trade involving the slugger? That’s the name to keep an eye as Candelario will soon be added to the team’s active roster.