The underrating of Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon has finally subsided a bit in 2019. The 29-year-old, owner of a 29.1 fWAR since his 2013 debut, finally made his first All-Star Game this season. All he had to do was hit .311/.398/.630 (158 wRC+) with 19 home runs in 299 plate appearances to earn a spot on this year’s National League roster.
Lack of All-Star nods aside, teams recognize the value of Rendon, who’s not far from reeling in a nine-figure contract. Aside from Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole, Rendon is hands down the majors’ preeminent player scheduled to reach the open market this winter. The Nationals would like to prevent Rendon from ever shopping his services around the game, of course, but it’s up in the air whether they’ll be able to stop the Scott Boras client. While both sides have expressed interest in continuing their partnership past this season, no agreement has materialized yet.
Now, four months before free agency, “there has been little to no progress” toward a long-term contract, Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post reports. Asked about negotiations, Rendon told Dougherty they’re “out of my hands,” though he did suggest he’s still amenable to staying in D.C.
Back when the Nationals and Boras were discussing a Rendon deal a few months ago, the player’s camp used Astros second baseman Jose Altuve’s pact as a starting point, according to Dougherty. Altuve signed a a five-year, $151MM extension going into 2018, when he was a soon-to-be 28-year-old coming off an AL MVP- and World Series-winning season. He was also a five-time All-Star then. The Nationals didn’t place a similar value on the less decorated Rendon, per Dougherty. Unsurprisingly, as Dougherty notes, the seven-year, $234MM guarantee the Rockies gave their own standout third baseman, Nolan Arenado, entering this season didn’t do anything to bridge the gap between the Nationals and Rendon. However, should the two sides resume talks in earnest, Dougherty suggests Rendon’s side would likely push for an Arenado-esque deal.
Barring a massive change in course over the next few months, Rendon seems almost certain to become a free agent after the season. In the process, he’d likely follow in Bryce Harper’s footsteps as the second Nats superstar to leave in as many winters. The Nationals, even though they were treading water last summer, decided against parting with Harper before either of the summer trade deadlines. They ended up losing the bidding for Harper to the Phillies in the offseason and only getting a draft pick after the fourth round as compensation for the qualifying offer recipient.
As was the case a summer ago, the Nationals are hanging around the .500 mark as they decide how to proceeded with a key free agent. The club has surged since a nightmarish start, putting it at 42-41 and just a game and a half out of a playoff spot. Assuming the Nationals stay on this path, it’s hard to envision them selling Rendon for a package of young talent this summer. If Rendon does leave Washington in the coming months, it seems likely to occur in free agency, when the team could land better compensation for the eventual QO recipient’s departure than it did Harper’s. Should the Nationals stay under the $206MM luxury tax threshold through this season – which they’ve done by a couple million dollars to this point – they’ll get a pick after Competitive Balance Round B for Rendon’s exit.
if hes allowed to walk…Rizzo (Mike not Anthony) should be forced to walk
Nah. Rizzo doesn’t sign the cheques. If they can’t keep him it will be on the Lerner family.
If Rizzo is nothing but a YES man to ownership then yes he should be gone. He should be gone anyway, they haven’t won a damn thing under him despite having loaded roster.
If Rizzo is nothing but a YES man to ownership, then that is clearly what ownership wants and the reason he is there.
Rizzo doesnt play on the field or coach the roster. The team is “loaded” as you say they are. And has been for a number of years. That’s due to Rizzo’s ability to build the team. But he cant play the games for them. And while he makes most of the decisions re the roster, the Lerners do tend to impact the absolute largest ones. Believe me, Rizzo would benefit more than the Nationals by letting him move on.
But he does hire and fire the manager, which he has done multiple times.
They won’t sign him. It will be Harper all over again. They are too close to fold without a fan uproar but not good enough to make the playoffs. Rendon and Boras will auction off to the highest bidder and that won’t be Washington. At least the compensation pick will be a few rounds higher for Rendon than it was for Harper. It still won’t be very high though.
The Rays with 1/3 the salary ability are run far better than this disastrous organization. Getting a comp pick for Harper was unconscionable, this would just be pathetic.
I wouldn’t call this org disastrous. Soto was a pretty nice pickup. Can’t think of many nine-figure deals (much less $200m ones) that have paid off as well as Scherzer’s.
Nats are definitely a team that needs either a hot streak to propel them into contention for the division or a cold streak that would make them comfortable dealing off rental pieces with value. Although I think with Harper they wouldn’t have traded him even if they were last in their division, something about trading him meaning they would have zero chance of signing him, which they failed in that endeavor anyway.
LOL aren’t they already on a hot streak? and why couldn’t they just contend for the WC? It’s likely they’ll only have the Rockies and NLC teams to contend for two spots so it’s easily viable.
It’s between them, Philly, Colorado and whoever doesn’t win the Central out of CHC and Milwaukee for the two Wild Card spots. It would be nice for Wash if they could distance themselves from the rest of the pack or maybe even try to overtake Atlanta for the division. They have to like their chances in the WC game with Max Scherzer on the mound but anything can happen in a one game playoff.
Soon as teams realise the Nats aren’t going to extend him, the calls will come in, would be silly for the Nats not to entertain the idea of moving him
There’s always more to these negotiations than we’re aware of. I get that. But man, if the Nats were truly willing to give Harper in the vicinity of $300MM they ought to be willing to give an older, vastly more consistent Rendon $200MM if that’s what it takes.
All he does is rake, day in and day out.
If the Nats lose Rendon after losing Harper, there should be consequences for Rizzo.
If he thinks he’s going to expect anywhere near Arenado’s contract he’s nuts.
Their numbers are very comparable when you take into consideration that Arenado plays 81 games every year on the moon.
Bingo. Rendon is the better hitter. Arenado plays in Colorado. Road numbers the last 5-6 years compared to other 3B proves Arenado gets a huge boost.
And don’t downplay Rendon’s defense. He’s actually a very good defender over there at third. Is he Arenado level good? No, but he’ll make all the plays he’s supposed to make and a lot of plays you wouldn’t expect a third baseman to be able to make.
With Soto & Robles on their roster, it made sense to part with Harper, considering his asking price and that they could allot that money to
multiple pieces, including locking up Rendon. They should have traded him though to get more than QO compensation for him though. They’d be fools to let Rendon go UNLESS they’re offered a Godfather deal, which is unlikely.
Rendon has significantly better career road OPS.
Hello Texas!!!!
Lets get this boy to tampa
Or Montreal.
Rendon is the best 3B in the NL by far. Lerner needs to pay the man but I fear the old man’s “kid” doesn’t wanna squander his billions-ish inheritance.