Earlier this MLB offseason, we highlighted how Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon was on monitor to be the league’s highest-paid participant at his place subsequent 12 months. That is now not the case after the Angels and Rendon agreed to restructure the ultimate 12 months of his contract. As a substitute, Rendon’s $38 million for this season will likely be unfold out over the following three to 5 years. The third baseman will nonetheless be on the Angels roster in title solely, as he is anticipated to overlook the complete season rehabbing accidents.
The restructuring of this deal would not change the truth that Rendon’s contract could be the worst one ever signed in MLB historical past. On the time, it felt considerably defensible. Rendon had simply received the 2019 World Sequence with the Washington Nationals and posted profession bests in house runs (34) and RBI (126), main the league within the latter class. He was a giant title to pair with famous person outfielder Mike Trout and then-rising younger star Shohei Ohtani.
However issues virtually instantly soured. Rendon had an honest 12 months in 2020 through the COVID-19-shortened marketing campaign, after which his physique started breaking down. He had a number of accidents—notably groin and hamstring strains, indirect harm, hip impingements, wrist surgical procedure, and a fractured tibia—that induced him to overlook 605 of his workforce’s 810 video games from 2021 by way of 2025. With one other misplaced season developing, Rendon can have performed in simply 257 of a doable 1,032 video games over seven years.
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Regardless that this final season will likely be unfold out over a couple of years to assist with the Angels’ cap scenario, they will nonetheless wind up paying Rendon the complete $245 million of his contract. In the event you’re scoring at house, that is $953,307 Rendon obtained per recreation.
And no, Rendon was not enjoying nicely sufficient on the sphere to make up for it. After posting .319/.412/.598 splits in his remaining season in Washington, Rendon mustered simply .242/.348/.369 with the Angels. In 5 seasons in Los Angeles, he totaled 22 house runs and 125 RBIs. That is proper, regardless of enjoying in 111 extra video games than his remaining season with the Nationals, Rendon nonetheless completed with fewer house runs and RBIs.
Accidents weren’t the one factor impacting Rendon’s availability—he additionally had a pair of suspensions that led to 9 missed video games. He was concerned in a 2022 brawl in opposition to the Seattle Mariners (whereas being injured). The next 12 months, he grabbed a fan after an Opening Day loss in opposition to Oakland. When his time with the Angels is over, his MLB profession seemingly will likely be, too. He turns 36 this season and hasn’t proven a lot consistency, both on the plate or in staying wholesome.
Earlier than the 2024 season, Rendon known as enjoying baseball “a job” and added that it had “by no means been a high precedence,” saying his religion and household come first. Maybe the Angels would have favored to know that tidbit earlier than giving him practically 1 / 4 of a billion {dollars}.
