Infielder Jeimer Candelario agreed yesterday to sign a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals and will fight for the starting position at third base.
The 29-year-old Dominican, a switch-hitter coming off a bad year with the Detroit Tigers, had a .217 batting average with a .272 on-base percentage during 2021.
But in 2021 he tied for the major league lead with 42 doubles and a .271 batting average, with .351 on base, 16 home runs and a career-high 67 RBIs.
He was part of the Chicago Cubs in 2016 and early 2017, but was dealt to Detroit during the 2017 season. Candelario became a free agent 10 days ago after the Tigers declined to extend his deal.
Washington, the worst team in the Major Leagues in 2021, also has Carter Kieboom at third base, selected in the first round of the 2016 amateur draft and who missed the entire previous season due to reconstructive elbow surgery, as well as the Venezuelan Ildemaro Vargas, who at 31 years old hit .280 in 53 games after signing with the Nationals.
In other changes announced yesterday, the Nationals agreed to sign a major league deal with outfielder Stone Garrett, who hit .276 in 27 rookie games with the Arizona Diamondbacks this year.
Dodgers agree with Shelby Miller
The Dodgers have reached an agreement to sign reliever Shelby Miller to a major league contract, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported. The club has not confirmed the move, which is still subject to the results of medical examinations.
A one-time All-Star and one-time first-round MLB draft pick, the 32-year-old Miller went nearly a year without pitching in the big leagues before being called up by the Giants in September.
