On the finish of 2025, the Los Angeles Angels and Anthony Rendon agreed to restructure the ultimate yr of his seven-year, $245 million contract. Rendon will nonetheless get the total $38 million he was owed in 2026, however it is going to be unfold out over three to 5 years. And thus ends his tenure with the Angels—and sure in Main League Baseball.
It is certainly one of a number of ill-fated contracts the Angels have had through the years. The workforce final made the playoffs in 2014 and have supplied 5 gamers huge contracts over the previous decade and a half. These gamers agreed to offers value $1.156 billion. They’ve finally missed practically half of the potential video games they may have performed. Out of a collective 5,100 video games, Rendon, Mike Trout, Justin Upton, Josh Hamilton, and Albert Pujols have solely appeared in 2,627—a mere 51.5% of all potential sport days.
Let’s dive into the blokes the Angels have invested in, and the way these investments have turned out.
Albert Pujols (5), Anthony Rendon (6), and Justin Upton (10) all signed massive contracts with the Angels. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photos)
Albert Pujols, $254 million
Albert Pujols was a legend in St. Louis, however after the Cardinals reportedly gave him a shorter provide, he opted to signal with the Angels as a substitute. His ten-year deal was value $254 million. Pujols had received three MVPs and made 9 All-Star groups earlier than becoming a member of the Angels. He made one All-Star workforce throughout ten seasons with the Angels. Pujols really was essentially the most accessible participant on this record, showing in 78% of a potential 1,518 video games.
Nonetheless, he was 32 throughout his first season with the workforce and noticed his manufacturing decline as he moved into his late 30s. The Angels launched him halfway via the 2021 season; he finally wound up again on the Cardinals and made yet another All-Star look for good measure (although that was largely attributable to followers having nostalgia for a Corridor of Fame profession). On the plus aspect, Pujols and the Angels have been reunited since his retirement. He obtained a 10-year contract to turn out to be a particular assistant for the workforce in 2023.
Anthony Rendon, $245 million
Anthony Rendon arguably had the worst contract in MLB historical past. He signed his seven-year deal shortly after profitable a World Collection with the Washington Nationals in 2019. He had simply posted career-highs in residence runs and RBIs, and even led the league within the latter class. However his tenure with the Angels could not attain those self same ranges of success.
He had a stable 2020 through the COVID-19-shortened season earlier than accidents derailed the remainder of the last decade. His numbers on the sector dropped; his batting splits fell and he had fewer residence runs and RBIs throughout his complete stint with the Angels than he did throughout his closing season in Washington. Rendon additionally had two separate suspensions, together with one which he obtained for taking part in a brawl whereas he was already injured. He’ll finally solely seem in 25% of his workforce’s video games, together with lacking the whole thing of each the 2025 and 2026 seasons—and the Angels pays him his complete contract anyway.
Josh Hamilton, $125 million
Again in 2013, the Angels supplied outfielder Josh Hamilton a five-year contract value $125 million. He was coming off 5 straight All-Star appearances and had received MVP in 2010. He additionally reached the World Collection with the Texas Rangers in back-to-back years in 2010 and 2011. His first season with the Angels went properly sufficient: He hit .250 with 21 residence runs and 79 RBIs throughout 151 video games. A dip in energy, to make sure, however he was constantly on the sector for the workforce.
The next yr, Hamilton solely performed in 89 video games as he suffered accidents to his thumb and shoulder and wanted day off to get better. The Angels made the playoffs in 2014, however Hamilton did not file a single hit within the ALDS, going 0-for-13 within the collection. In February 2015, Hamilton had surgical procedure on his separated shoulder. Quickly after, stories got here out that he had relapsed into his drug habit, which had hampered him earlier in his profession. Angels proprietor Arte Moreno mentioned he did not need Hamilton returning to the workforce and traded him again to the Rangers. Nonetheless, the Angels nonetheless owed Hamilton nearly all of his contract. He finally wound up taking part in in 240 out of a potential 343 video games whereas he was nonetheless on the Angels roster, or 240 out of a potential 810 video games that the Angels thought they have been signing him for.
Justin Upton, $106 million
In August 2017, the Angels obtained Justin Upton in a commerce with the Detroit Tigers. He completed the season in Los Angeles, and that November, the Angels signed him to a five-year, $106 million extension. Throughout his first full season on the roster, Upton performed properly. He posted splits of .257/.344/.463 whereas hitting 30 residence runs and knocking in 85 RBIs.
However after that first yr, issues began unraveling. Hmm…we’re sensing a theme right here. He suffered a handful of accidents, together with turf toe, patellar tendinitis, and a number of decrease again points. The Angels designated Upton for project on April 2, 2022, and he by no means performed the ultimate season of his deal. He completed his Angels profession with a .232 batting common, 75 residence runs, and 203 RBIs, taking part in in 366 out of a potential 708 video games (52%).
Mike Trout, $426 million
How this one shakes out remains to be to be decided, although the Angels have performed 1,032 video games since Mike Trout started what was then the most important contract in MLB historical past. Trout has solely performed in 583, or about 56% of them. He is been pretty productive whereas on the sector, profitable MVP in 2019 and being named an All-Star in 4 out of 5 seasons (and the time he did not make it was in 2020, when there wasn’t an All-Star Sport).
Nonetheless, the previous two seasons have seen Trout submit his worst batting numbers since he was known as as much as the majors halfway via the 2011 season. 2024 may have been chalked as much as harm, however Trout performed in 130 video games this previous season. The Angels are hoping he can get again to his All-Star-level efficiency within the coming yr. In any case, they’ve invested a ton of cash into their large stars.
