Candelario, Lawrence and Kranick elect minor league free agency

Candelario hit 15 Triple-A homers in 2026.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

What happened: The Nationals outrighted right-handers Justin Lawrence in July and Max Kranick in September. The Angels outrighted infielder Jeimer Candelario in April, according to [MLB Trade Rumors via KhanList](https://www.khanlist.com/story/three-players-elect-minor-league-free-agency-af71d877).

Why it matters: Kranick's Washington contract included an $850,000 club option. Candelario enters negotiations after a seven-game major league stint in which he went 2-for-18.

By the numbers: Lawrence and Kranick combined for 52 2/3 major league innings in 2026, posting ERAs of 7.34 and 9.33, respectively. Candelario's .377 on-base percentage and .509 slugging percentage at Triple-A produced an .886 OPS. [MLB Trade Rumors via KhanList](https://www.khanlist.com/story/three-players-elect-minor-league-free-agency-af71d877).

What to watch: Watch whether their next contracts offer major league roster spots or opportunities to compete for jobs through minor league deals.

Sources

MLB Trade Rumors 2026-10-09T11:21:13.790426+00:00

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