Chicago Cubs Boosted by Addition of Third Baseman Jeimer Candelario from Washington Nationals

The Chicago Cubs acquire infielder Jeimer Candelario from the Washington Nationals ahead of the trade deadline, boosting team morale.

The Chicago Cubs front office has made a strong statement about their belief in the team's potential. In a move ahead of the trade deadline, they acquired infielder Jeimer Candelario from the Washington Nationals, along with a cash consideration. In exchange, the Cubs sent two prospects, left-handed pitcher DJ Herz and infielder Kevin Made, to Washington. This trade comes before the Cubs' 6-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.

Candelario, who spent the first two seasons of his big-league career with the Cubs, will have two months to make an impact in Chicago. He will be reunited with his former World Series championship teammates Kyle Hendricks and now manager David Ross. Candelario and Ian Happ also played together at Triple-A Iowa in 2017 and were called up to the Cubs within four days of each other. Happ expressed his excitement about Candelario's return, highlighting his defensive skills at third base and his strong batting ability.

For players who have been with the team for the past couple of years, the acquisition of Candelario is a welcome change. They see it as an opportunity to improve and compete for the division title. Nico Hoerner emphasized the team's confidence and excitement about finding their best version and not setting limits on their potential.

The Cubs' struggles continued in their loss to the Reds, with starting pitcher Marcus Stroman having a difficult outing. Stroman currently holds a 9.00 ERA over his last six starts. Despite this, catcher Yan Gomes expressed confidence in Stroman's abilities and expects him to bounce back.

Candelario's arrival adds much-needed power to the Cubs' lineup. In his 99 games with the Nationals this year, he has hit 30 doubles and 16 home runs with a 128 OPS+. While he has primarily played third base, he has also started 60 games at first base, providing defensive flexibility for the Cubs. Manager David Ross did not reveal how Candelario would be used after the game.

The Cubs have struggled to find quality production at first base, with five players combining for a negative Wins Above Replacement (WAR). Candelario's addition to the lineup will deepen it and provide an extra-base threat.

In a separate move, the Cubs traded outfielder Nelson Velázquez to the Kansas City Royals for right-hander José Cuas. Velázquez did not have a clear path to regular playing time with the Cubs, and the team decided to reallocate their depth. Cuas, who has a sinker-slider combination, has a 4.54 ERA in 45 appearances for the Royals this season.

Candelario was originally signed by the Cubs in 2010 and appeared in 16 games with the team before being traded to the Detroit Tigers in 2017. The Cubs' depth in their minor-league system allowed them to make this trade and address future decisions.

As the Cubs begin an important series against the first-place Reds, they hope that the addition of Candelario will provide a boost. The team is aware of the trade deadline and the potential for further moves to strengthen the bullpen. The players understand the front office's commitment to improving the team and believe that these additions can boost morale and inject confidence and positivity into the clubhouse.

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