The specter of Jeimer Candelario hangs over the Cincinnati Reds' offseason in more ways than one. Part of the reason why the Reds' budget for 2026 feels so tight is that the Reds are paying Candelario $16 million in 2026 to not play for them.
If that wasn't bad enough, the club has to contend with the fact that they envisioned Candelario as a power-hitting hot corner man who could have been a foundational piece for their present and future. Instead, he turned into a pumpkin.
This isn't the first time the club has suffered this fate.