The Cubs have made a significant splash at the 2023 MLB trade deadline, reaching an agreement on a deal with the Nationals to acquire third baseman Jeimer Candelario, according to Ken Rosenthal.
Candelario was considered to be one of the best bats available at the deadline, and he’s now set to join a Chicago lineup that’s been red-hot throughout the month of July.
According to Mark Feinsand, the Cubs are sending shortstop prospect Kevin Made and LHP D.J. Herz to Washington. Made, 20, ranked as the team’s No. 14 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and has a .683 OPS across 70 games at the High A level. Herz was the team’s No. 16 prospect and currently owns a 3.94 ERA across 14 appearances in Double A.
Candelario, 29, started his MLB career in Chicago with the Cubs back in 2016, but played in just 16 games for the franchise before he was traded to the Tigers with fellow infielder Isaac Paredes for catcher Alex Avila and reliever Justin Wilson. He played six seasons in Detroit before latching on with the Nationals in free agency. Now, he’s set to return to Chicago for another stint on the North Side.
This season, Candelario has featured in 99 games. He’s slashing .258/.342/.481 with 16 home runs and 53 RBI. His 3.3 fWAR was the highest on the Nationals and would represent the second highest mark on the Cubs, trailing only Dansby Swanson (3.4).
Chicago had been predicted to be sellers at the trade deadline, but after winning eight of their last nine games, the team’s stance changed, culminating in the addition of Candelario on Monday evening.
