5:45 PM: The Angels have officially announced the move, placing Rendon on the 10-day injured list with the designation of right wrist inflammation. In a corresponding move, Janson Junk was recalled from Triple-A and placed on the active roster.
7:42 AM: Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon will be placed on the 10-day injured list prior to today’s game against the Blue Jays, manager Joe Maddon said last night. An MRI revealed the issue in Rendon’s wrist, but there was otherwise no structural damage.
Rendon suffered the injury while taking a swing in Thursday’s game, and he didn’t play in last night’s contest between the Jays and Angels. Tyler Wade stepped in as the starting third baseman, and with Rendon sidelined, it would seem like Wade and Matt Duffy would form a platoon at the hot corner until Rendon is ready to return. In the minors, Jack Mayfield is at Triple-A and on the 40-man roster, so he is probably the likeliest candidate to receive a call-up so the Halos can replenish their infield depth.
After missing much of the 2021 season due to hamstring, groin, and knee problems, Rendon has bounced back this year to hit .242/.335/.403 with five home runs over his first 173 plate appearances. This production translates to a 116 OPS+ and 118 wRC+ — still solidly above average, if below the superstar numbers Rendon posted with the Nationals and in his first season (2020) in Anaheim. It could be that the best is yet to come for Rendon this season, as his .358 xwOBA is well ahead of his .329 wOBA.
The Angels have been one of the league’s better-hitting teams, though the injury bug has started to bite some key bats. Rendon’s trip to the IL is the most impactful of these injuries, as Taylor Ward returned to the lineup yesterday after missing a few games with a stringer. Shohei Ohtani wasn’t in last night’s lineup due to a sore back, though the two-way star was able to pinch-hit.
Right when you think he’s starting to get back to his old self.
Old Self ? …exactly what would that look like for this guy- Rendon left it all behind him after his ring & salary drive with the Nats.. Hes just a another coulda, shoulda …or something now.
Rendon was the best player on the Angels in 2020, so when exactly did he leave it all behind?
Did Fletcher leave it all behind after he signed his big contract?
Or has injuries slowed down their present contributions. Since you need to make things up to make a point, I can’t say I care what you write on the subject.
The only thing happening to Rendon is age
He’s not old.
By baseball standards he’s right at the beginning of old. 31 is the age of decline. (Plus, he’s older than he used to be. Players don’t get better with age, not at 30.)
The trouble with these endless injury reports, call-up’s / sent down’s, and transactions is that even avid fans can no longer keep up with it.
Add in that teams are moving position players around to multiple positions – not just from game to game, but even within games; and teams using 5+ pitchers in a game most days is now normal is no way to sell a product.
Additionally…….
I’ve loved watching MLB team building most of my life. But with the shifts along with all noted above, the sport has turned from watching the players compete to watching FO’s and their analytic people turn athletes into robots as they’ve highjacked what once used to be a competitive sport. I cannot believe what the Rays turned into this year……and they’re setting the tone.
Surprisingly, Joe Maddon isn’t platooning much this season. I’ve accused Maddon of needless tinkering in the past but this season he’s using his best players available and winning.
His last season and perhaps the front office has told him to back off or they are directing from behind the scenes. Maddon must be smart enough to know if he’s not resigned he is retired.
He’s not coming close to using his best players. He had a different lineup everyday. Rengifo cannot play second base, Ward cannot play RF.
The biggest problem with this team is they don’t have a second baseman and a 4th outfielder.
And don’t forget they don’t have a SS either.
The shortstop can play defense. Between RF and 2b last night, five makable plays turned into base runners and bases. That’s why the Angels lost yesterday.
Renigfo has played an awesome 2b thus far. Watch a game.
Are you series. He just blew another play and missed two plays yesterday. I don’t think you people know baseball.
The member badge doesn’t give you license to be a jerk.
He tells me to “watch” the game and you call me a jerk?
You people kill me.
I do watch the games and also realize the announcers are more into selling a product than reporting the game. The Largares/Rengifo was pure little league.
He fields a slow roller with his glove and not his hand and he drops, then kicks the cutoff throw from left.
He is a terrible second baseman. With his bat he makes soft contact which means his BABIP can’t remain high and he gets few extra base hits.
The pitching part could be solved by teaching pitchers how to actually pitch rather than letting them try to light up the radar gun for 4-5 innings. Locate, change speeds, mix your pitches around, etc., and you can go deeper into games.
Unfortunately there are too many high power executives in the game now who treat the baseball product likes apple treats it iPhones. Baseball is still pure in other forms outside of the MLB. Check out the Savannah Bananas on Social media, they definitely make you smile watching baseball which is what it’s all about.
Is it written somewhere that the Angels must have a bad contract on the payroll every year?
On a large banner hung across the owner’s office I’m guessing
Haha! They slap it while going down the stairwell, like at Notre Dame!
They tried by getting rid of Uptons contract, but alas, Rendon stepped up to the plate and showed them that indeed, his contract sucks donkey as.s.
Heal up Tony 2 bags. We really need you to be available this season. Not paying you to be on the bench…his defense and normal bat is something you can’t replace.
For the past year and a half Rendon struggles early, starts to heat up, goes on the IL, struggles upon return, starts to heat up, goes on the IL, struggles upon return… rinse and repeat.
It’s why you don’t sign 30 year olds to such contracts
Cosmo, you make a good point. For most people/athletes, it only gets tougher to stay healthy as you age. And Rendon is having trouble staying on the field on the front end of his contract when he really needs to produce. Making matters worse, Rendon consistently scuffles for a few weeks upon his return.
I like Rendon and I’m sticking with him for now, but I fear the last couple of years on his contract are going to be ugly.
@Angels & NL West Rendon has been a slow starter though out his career. His career batting average in May is .258. He heats up as the weather heats up. A habitual slow starter, major surgery, and short spring training, I am not shocked he is off to a slow start this year. Also, a 10 day DL string is not alarming yet. I am not pressing the panic button yet.
Mets went from from being a bad team to a good team by signing a bunch of “old” dudes. Scherzer, Canha, Escobar, Marte, traded for Bassit. Same for the Giants last year. Most of the good teams are older. If you think the Yankees and Red Sox are better if they let Judge or Bogaerts walk, I would say you’re wrong.
I would wait to see if the Mets hold up. Down Max already, Canha and Bassit are young with the latter being traded for and not signed. Marte seems to be a level above himself, and on his free agent year none the less.. a la Adrian Beltre style. Escobar isn’t playing all that well as of now. Degrom hurt and that McCann signing looks as bad as the first day. I would gladly take back the guys they traded lindor for with that contract they gave him.
What the Mets did rarely works and they did it bigger than normal. And yet it hasn’t worked at all for the Angels
I’ve kind of gotten off track and didn’t express myself clearly from the start. My concern with Rendon the last 1 1/2 years is that when he starts the season or comes off the IL, his bat is cold. Just when his bat heats up, he goes back on the IL and we start the process all over again. In a perfect world, he would come out of the chute a little hotter or stay off the IL a little more.
We need an outfielder( could have kept Upton) Adell can at least hit..no worse in field than others..Get rid of Duffy..Bring up Stefanic and give him a shot..at least he can hit.
Get rid of Duffy? Why
Duffy has been a playable hitter, but can’t field. And he made an incredibly stupid play on the bases the other day. I don’t know if he can’t help.
His fielding is awful,he has no power and Maddon insists on platooning him with Marsh..What has he brought to the table?
His fielding is awful???? You haven’t been watching. He’s made some great plays this year at 3B
He’s talking about Duffy being an awful fielder and not Rendon.
Yes ..Not Rendon Rendon is great glovester
I knew when he got a big contract that he wasn’t going to bethe same guy he used to be. Just a lot of money and getting up there in age
Are those the bounce back stats you expect for a 30M/year player? Looks like another great Angel signing
This is the end result of his HUSTLER subscription not lapsing.
Please tell me Janson Junk is a junker baller. Regardless, it’s a grade 80 name.
11 doing a great job spouting out his lack of wisdom.
As stated prior, watch a game.
If only Duffy could hir, right 11.
Hit. Haha!
Fire Maddon!
Can we have Michael Stefanic already?!?
.338/.421/.434 at AAA — with a K Rate of 6.6%?!?!
What else does he need to do?
I’d love to see him up. He’s a better hitter than Rengifo, and he can’t be a worse fielder.
He’s a 26 year old putting up good numbers for the first time in his career and in the PCL no less. I wouldn’t get too excited. Those minor league numbers are very unlikely to translate to the majors.
You should look up what he did last year. He hit better last year than this year. He’s a hitting machine. The knock is his defense, but I can’t imagine anyone not being able to outplay Rengifo.
You’re right, I missed that. I guess they should give him a shot.
Just watching Rengifo, Stefanic can’t be worse.
Did great is Az this spring as well!