Candelario set for hot corner as infield takes shape

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The surplus of infield talent at the Reds' disposal was always a good problem to have, but their depth at the position group has taken on added significance in the wake of Noelvi Marte's 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

Marte's suspension creates a hole at third base, where MLB Pipeline's top Reds prospect (No. 21 overall) was expected to receive the bulk of the playing time. For the time being, that vacancy will most likely be filled by veteran infielder Jeimer Candelario, manager David Bell said before Saturday's game against the D-backs at Salt River Fields.

Candelario, 30, signed a three-year, $45 million deal to join the Reds this offseason and was initially expected to split time between first and third base. For his part, he's expressed that he's open to playing wherever he fits best.

"Noelvi Marte is one of the special guys here," Candelario said. "We're going to support him. … Wherever [manager] David Bell needs me to go that day, I'll go there, because I came here to be part of this special team and at the same time, be able to help my team win."

But that doesn't necessarily complete the puzzle. Given Cincinnati's depth and versatility, the infield situation could be fluid as the club sees its lineup come together in the final weeks of spring and the opening weeks of the regular season.

Behind Candelario, there are plenty of players on the 40-man roster -- and beyond -- who are capable of manning the hot corner or otherwise rounding out the infield.

Jonathan India, Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand all primarily played third base in the Minors. They were moved off third and to their respective current positions because they were blocked at third when they were called up, or in Steer's case, because he was able to move to the outfield to ease the infield logjam.

Elly De La Cruz can handle third as well, and played there in 32 games last season, but the Reds would prefer that he remain at shortstop.

"We're gonna create as many options over there as we can for that," Bell said. "There's just so many different ways that our lineup can come together that we'll just create the options and kind of let that play out a little bit."

That's not to say that third base and the other positions on the dirt will be a revolving door, though.

"We have guys that play different positions, so I don't want to take that away from them," Bell said. "I want us to use it as an advantage. I don't want to unnecessarily move them around.

"But right now, Elly is going to focus at short. Jeimer is going to get a lot of playing time at third. We're going to still move Jonathan around so that he's prepared to play first base, the outfield -- we know he can play second, mix in some work at third. We have good options."

As Bell sees it now, Candelario will still see time at both corner infield spots, but there will be "less of a need" to get him playing time at first base. That clears the way for first to be Encarnacion-Strand's primary position, with De La Cruz at shortstop, Matt McLain -- once he’s healthy -- at second and India in a utility role completing the infield group.

Bell stressed that Marte had not been guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster, although he was well on track. That means there's essentially an extra spot up for grabs, which could potentially open the door for a non-roster invitee to break camp with the Reds.

Of Cincinnati's remaining non-roster infielders, Josh Harrison and Tony Kemp have the most Major League experience. Harrison has played 338 games at third base in his career, while Kemp has the ability to move around the diamond and posted noteworthy reverse splits last year, putting up a .933 OPS against lefties.

Of course, if the Reds are satisfied with their rostered options in the infield, they could instead opt to bolster another position group. Further needs could emerge as the regular season nears.

"It always depends on how you play, but probably more importantly, just how the roster comes together," Bell said. "It'd be a mistake to try to narrow it down right now or make a decision now.”