Nick Krall's old Jeimer Candelario comments should put Ke'Bryan Hayes on notice

Jeimer Candelario, who signed a minor-league deal with the Angels this offseason, elected free agency after spending most of the 2026 season in Triple-A. The Reds designated Candelario for assignment in 2025 and absorbed $22.5 million in remaining contract costs, citing that unproductive players cannot help the team win. Reds president Nick Krall's rationale for cutting Candelario—treating the contract as a sunk cost—could apply to third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, who had one of the worst offensive seasons in baseball and still owes $29 million through 2029. Hayes will likely face significant pressure to improve offensively in 2027 or risk a similar fate.

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