The Angels and third baseman Anthony Rendon are discussing a buyout plan with Rendon expected to retire, reports Alden González of ESPN. Rendon’s seven-year, $245MM deal still has one year and $38MM remaining.
Rendon’s deal has been a punchline for a long time now and will certainly go down as one of the biggest busts of this era, perhaps even of all time. The Angels have gotten almost no return on their massive investment. Rendon was still a very good player in the first year of the pact, but that happened to be the 202o season, which was shortened to just 60 games on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, Rendon has been largely injured. Even when he has been able to take the field, he hasn’t been terribly useful.
When the deal was signed, Rendon was coming off an excellent stretch with the Nationals. From 2013 to 2019, he slashed .290/.369/.490 for a wRC+ of 128. He dabbled at second base but mostly provided strong defense at third. He had a well-timed career year in 2019, though that year would later become infamous for its juiced balls. His 34 home runs were a career high. He slashed .319/.412/.598 for a wRC+ of 155. He hit .328/.413/.590 in the postseason, helping the Nats win their first ever World Series title.
It was then that the Rendon headed to California. As mentioned, he was still quite good in his first season as an Angel. He played in 52 of the club’s 60 games, hitting nine home runs. His 16.4% walk rate was a few ticks higher than his 13.4% strikeout rate. He hit .286/.418/.497 for a 152 wRC+. FanGraphs credited him with 2.5 wins above replacement in that truncated campaign.
But in the five seasons since, mounting injuries have prevented from doing much of anything. From 2021 to 2024, he finished each season with between 43 and 58 appearances. He had stints on the injured list due to a left groin strain, a left knee contusion, a left hamstring strain, a right hip impingement, right wrist inflammation, right wrist surgery, another left groin strain, a left wrist contusion, a left shin contusion, a left hip impingement, a left hamstring strain, low back inflammation and a left oblique strain. He hit .231/.329/.336 for an 89 wRC+ over those seasons. In February of 2025, he underwent left hip surgery and eventually missed the entire season.
A lengthy injury history may be out of a player’s control but Rendon has been followed by questions about his attitude and commitment. Back in 2014, he said he doesn’t watch baseball because it’s “too long and boring,” per Jason Butt of The Washington Post. In 2022, he got a five-game suspension for getting involved in a brawl with the Mariners, even though he was on the IL recovering from wrist surgery at the time. Early in the 2023 season, he received another suspension for an altercation with an Athletics fan, which was caught on video. Rendon grabbed the fan’s shirt, cursed at him and swiped at him. In January of 2024, on the Jack Vita Show, he said the baseball season was too long and needed to be shortened.
Shortly thereafter, as rounded up by Sam Blum of The Athletic, Rendon was asked about these concerns. “It’s never been a top priority for me,” Rendon said of baseball. “This is a job. I do this to make a living. My faith, my family come first before this job.” He seemed to take umbrage with reporters for continuing to question him on the subject. “I have answered your question,” he said. “So why do keep picking at it?”
The combination of Rendon’s contract, his injury absences and his reputation have made him a frequent target for criticism from fans. The money owed to him has also been an obvious obstacle for the Angels, who have had a decent chunk of their payroll tied up in one rarely-available player. Despite having Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Rendon on the roster for many years, the Angels haven’t been a serious contender in a long time.
If some kind of buyout arrangement can be worked out, it could work for both sides. Rendon could walk away from the game after years of injuries, including a 2025 lost to hip surgery, as opposed to trying to get back into game shape. The Angels could open up some more payroll flexibility for the 2026 season.
As it currently stands, RosterResource has them slated for a $166MM payroll, with Rendon taking up almost a quarter of that. They are looking to bolster the pitching staff and their lineup ahead of next season. Speculatively speaking, a plan could perhaps be worked out which defers Rendon’s 2026 salary so he gets paid in the long run but the Angels have more near-term ability to spend on other players. Time will tell how the chips fall on that.
Assuming Rendon doesn’t play another major league game, he will retire with 5,022 plate appearances over 1,173 games. He notched 1,218 hits, including 295 doubles, 16 triples and 158 home runs. He scored 683 runs, drove in 671 and stole 55 bases. FanGraphs credits him with 33.8 wins above replacement and Baseball Reference 34.2. MLBTR salutes him on his accomplishments and wishes him the best in his non-baseball life.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Dyer, Tommy Gilligan, Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images
Either way, Rendon swindled that money from the Angels.
You realize that teams aren’t exactly innocent when they sign players to ridiculous contracts and the player turns out not being worthy of that money?
Implying the Angels were “guilty” , the opposite of “innocent”, seems inappropriate. They paid market value for a guy that was a 6 WAR player the previous 3 seasons and relatively healthy. At age 30 you evict their to be done decline towards the end of a long contract but not immediately.
I don’t think the Angels are guilty, how could they know that injuries would completely derail Rendon’s career.
Of course, they desperately needed pitching at that time, signing Rendon instead of a frontline starter was stupid.
As a baseball fan, I believe athletes who view their sport as a job and not a lifestyle are healthy minded. Other athletes, like Nikola Jokic have a similar view. He’s told reporters he’s got bigger priorities (wife, daughter and brothers) and passions (horse racing). He’s gone on to say playing basketball is his job and he just happens to be very good at it.
Like any career, being an athlete is all it is: a job. Every athletes true priorities belong to their faith and their families at home.
Anyone who criticizes them for it is foolish.
I thought of Jokic and Barkley, too. Sports are fun to play and watch, but they shouldn’t be all-consuming.
@JLa yeah, and it makes me wonder how a healthy Rendon would’ve performed for the Angels. He’s made disparaging statements about baseball since 2014 and was still an elite level player for several years, so it’s not like he didn’t put in effort. And he’s been so injury riddled for the Angels, I wouldn’t blame him if his feelings towards baseball, the game he dedicated his life to that is now affecting his everyday life, might have soured.
A hip surgery typically ends a career. Rendon is the only player to have two hip surgeries this century, and maybe the only player to have a surgery on each hip in the history of baseball.
There is not a person on the planet who prefer to go through that than play baseball.
He got hurt, and has likely gone through hell. Those surgeries are not fun.
The Angels didn’t get their monies worth, but Rendon did not swindle the Angels.
You don’t have to wonder. While healthy he was one of the best 3B in the game in 2020. Then he had a hip injury in 2021 that normally ends a player’s career. He has never made a disparaging comment about baseball. He has only said what any good person should be saying and that is that his faith and family take precedent over baseball.
It’s foolish to question their family, but what faith are we talking about? It’s foolish of me to just accept anyone’s faith as legitimate without knowing what they have faith in.
It’s foolish of anyone to think that everyone has ‘faith’.
There’s millions of people that would trade spots with him and not complain about playing a kids game for millions of dollars!
@JLaGrow0533,
A person can have passion for their work as well as faith and family at same time. The joy, authenticity extra effort shine through in those who love what they do. That Anthony Rendon views baseball as just a job,morphs into waste of a contract given to him. Someone eager to play probably wouldn’t have missed the massive amount of time he did, and may not have even sustained some of those injuries. Work ethic, committment to health and rehab, bonding with teammates all suffer when a person doesn’t want to be at his or her job.
What does it matter what his faith is in? Whether he worships the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Great Spaghetti Monster, or Satan, complete with ritual human sacrifice, or even belief in nothing at all, the subject of Rendon’s faith took priority over whatever he committed to on the baseball field. As a man of faith myself, I don’t see balancing any of my commitments as having to be one thing vs. another exclusively. Most normal people just somehow make our lives work.
This is the same for every normal person alive right now. He doesn’t deserve a special award for it. It’s just a given, and shouldn’t even need to be said.
@long
To say he suffered injured for lack of love for the gangs sounds like a silly thing to say.
@greg1:
The Angels have lacked a proper third baseman since Troy Glaus, the problem wasn’t signing Rendon instead of starting pitching, it was Rendon’s injuries. Who knows how the Angels would’ve fared with a healthy Trout, Ohtani, and Rendon.
Rendon was a clutch hitter, even when he was struggling, too bad he couldn’t stay healthy, and duct tape his mouth
right on, as long as they give they’re all for the big bucks they’re accepting.
I agree with you even though the majority of angels fans probably won’t. The angels are sinking a ton of money in Trout that the team is probably not going to get full value out of either.
Almighty Dollar
As Angels fan. Ive been putting up with these comments for the life of Rendon contract.
But at the time of the signing I was ecstatic over the signing. The Angels had just lost out on signing Cole and Arte pivot and signed Rendon.
And why not he carried the Nat’s thru the post season.
He was coming onto his prime.. Say what you want. But
I honestly don’t believe he faked his injuries.
@halo11fan. He had other surgeries this year. He was getting everything taken care of before the buyout. Hopefully he leaves some money on the table. 15 aav the next two years seems reasonable. Leaving 8 on the table.
No one cares about your opinion of any given persons “faith”. One does not have to justify it to anyone.
Rendon is not the smoothest interview, but anyone who can’t understand someone putting God and family above baseball is not very bright.
Rendon is a payroll bandit. They got Borassed. It was a terrible deal form the start coming off a career year. He was never going to be huge HR power. The guy pulls a muscle walking to the bathroom. Walking because he cant run. Bad attitude as well. His rookie card is worth 1 cent.
Everyone does have faith. It’s the object of that faith that matters.
It’s foolish to question someone’s faith.
It’s worse than injuries, a lot worse, it’s about his character and what seems an overall lack of commitment on Rendon’s part.
He had two major hip surgeries. Man people are stupid.
If you actually had to do the training, competing and touring every year, you’d be complaining too. The job is nothing like little league….
People don’t recognize that the business of sports is very different than just the love of the sport itself. The former can poison the latter. It’s just not something one truly sees from the outside. No different than how someone loves playing music but then has success at it, and the business of music makes it no different than the drag of any day job. It only looks glamorous from the outside looking in.
That reply is incorrect.
They also desperately needed a regular 3rd baseman. They hadn’t had a solid one since Troy Glaus. They had a huge hole, and they signed the best 3rd baseman available. Hardly stupid.
Yes, they also needed pitching.
Brainwashed like most people of faith religion is something people hide behind is cult like
Jokic actually does his job
They still wouldn’t have had enough pitching.
The difference is Jokic has an all around positive attitude, treats fans well, and plays the game with passion and intensity.
With Rendon its not criticism that he puts his family or faith first, its an all around disregard for his “job”. One can take pride in their careers and their performance at work while still ultimately prioritizing their families.
Alexpulido7051 2
Explain why he should’ve had to “duct tape his mouth”.
Fans love to come and talk a whole lot of trash at games about players and expect no one to give it back. I love Rendon that he gave it back, Some fans maybe never even played the game, yet they go the ballpark and want to open their big mouths about a player’s playing ability.
I don’t. Faith is for children, like Santa Claus.
I don’t need athletes to be religious at all.
It appears Rendon’s faith is way way way way over your head…..
Figgins and Callaspo were quite good for a short amount of time. But, overall, yes.
I’m brainwashed…nope. But you’re ignorant.
Right, he had two major hip surgeries on his own.
People are stupid.
Professional sports and “playing a kids game” is different, Alex.
Try “playing a kids game” professionally.
Is he Amy Grant?
Problem was he very seldom played. He was definitely the John Dillinger of Baseball.
He’s a bum, played good all those years to get the final big paycheck! Then he gave a 50/50 effort!
Really..gave 50-50 effort? And you know this how.
Any reporter who asks a gotcha question like how important baseball is, is a POS.
Any fan who puts any weight on a player’s answer is a clueless.
@halos11fan. What about his former teammates that had those questions that lead to a media person asking him.
Give me the players name and the quote. I’ll be happy to look up what the player said exactly.
Only one former teammate, that paragon of logical thought Jonathan Papelbon.
I disagree. Rendon’s job is not showing up nine-to-five at a call center. He’s someone with elite talent. receiving elite compensation. To perform at that level one needs to have more than superior athleticism. one needs the psycholgical makeup to excel. That’s what makes the difference between all-stars and also-rans. Sure, family comes first (as, most recently, the Dodgers and Alex Vesia demonstrated). But I’m pretty confident that when Rendon and Boras were negotiating his $245 million (!) deal, they didn’t tell the Angels that, to Rendon, it’s just a job.
@Bronx Most of these pro contracts have language that players are supposed to represent franchise in a professional manner. Pro leagues also have rules stipulating availability to the media.
Ultimately Rendon is a grown man and recieved a 9 figure deal, he should have shown more respect towards fans and represented the organization in a more professional manner. They are paid very handsomely and if wished to have anonymity and such thin skin he should have chose another profession.
Actually they did. It’s why he didn’t sign with the Dodgers even though they offered him more money.
He preferred Orange County to raise his family.
They would be worse than Rendon…
It’s ok to be good at your job and not really like it. People do it everyday
@websoul How is what I said spewing hate?? I did not in any way insult Rendon, I stated he should have represented organization in a more professional matter. He by all means could have exercised more caution when speaking with the media, not offering comments that could be or were a disregard for the sport, team, and his performance. He also could have refrained from getting into it with fans. Yes players often put up with alot from some fans who go overboard. However not only are they paid very very well, they chose an entertainment profession where they are in the limelight and are publicly recognized figures.
Bonx, Rendon was a superstar. There is no question that he had the psychological makeup, to use your words, to excel. Then he had a surgery that usually ends a players career or at least makes them entirely ineffectual. Rendon returned and played well until he had another injury that required surgery. He returned again. Then broke his leg and required another surgery.
Rendon never said its “just a job”, He said its a job. Its what he does to make a living and if his job interfered with his faith and family he would stop playing. Read the interview with Blum in full, Obviously it never did.
If you don’t have the same opinion I have to question your values.
Shown more respect? He returned from an injury and surgery that has ended the baseball career of all but one position player that has had it. Then he has a surgery for a wrist issue caused by a HBP when he returned. The following year he had a broken leg. All of those injuries were from doing his job. He didn’t disrespect the game or the organization he played for. Idiot fans disrespected the game by talking bad about a player that kept pushing to return from injury after injury. Its not like he wanted to injure his hip bad enough to require them to scrape the bone. Its not like he stuck his hand in front of a 96 mph fastball in an attempt to cause enough tendon damage that it required surgery. Its not like he fouled a ball off his leg on purpose in an attempt to break it. You people really need to pull your heads out.
Alex Cobb on line one. He’d like to update you on that.
@halo11fan. Kevin pillar recently, and Papelbon years ago. I guess both were on foul territory.
Papelbon is clubhouse cancer, high praise indeed. I’ll look at Pillar, but how many games did they actually play together?
@Skip’s No he did not have the type of hip surgery that usual end careers. Yes hip injuries as a whole can be some of the worst. The worst hip injuries for athletes that typically end careers have been and are fractures, tears, and dislocations. Some of those then are further compounded when the fractured or dislocated bone damages blood vessels or arteries. This was the case with Bo Jackson, the initial injury itself he could have easily came back from the avascular necrosis from blood vessel damage led to a disruption on blood flow to hip and ultimately bone damage. He original was only supposed to be out a week or 2, it wasnt til a month later that the damaged blood vessels were discovered.
Rendon had a hip impingement which is basically some rubbing where femur and hip socket come together. It is a far less serious injury and usually is discomfort and some varying level of pain or discomfort. The fix would be something that is a scheduled surgery opposed to unscheduled acute trauma surgery to fix blunt force damage.
Prior to questioning anyone’s values you might want to become more familiar with the topic at hand .
@halo11fan. Probably not that much maybe spring training. He pretty much said the samething as Papelbon about him not putting in the work and doing everything at half effort, but he expanded and said maybe they dont want that around the kids. Also Suzuki and Eaton played with rendon.
Here is an exact quote from Pillar.
“Anthony Rendon is one of the most misunderstood players, maybe of all time”. “People forget that baseball is a job, to a lot of us, is a job. The joy changes when you reach the major leagues. I felt it towards the end of my career.”
And you get cancer out of this? You people are nuts. You’re sheep who believe everything shunned reporters with an agenda write.
@halo11fan. He definitely said more than a couple sentences. He did back pedal on his comments. He also said he isn’t a locker room cancer which i also believe.
If you are going to comment about Rendon, read the interview with Blum first. Then you will know what you are talking about. It doesn’t seem like you read it from your comments so far.
He did. He accused Rendon of not giving full effort, but also mentioned no one really knows his home workout regime could have been better.
The only person who really understood the extent of Rendon’s injury was Rendon. It’s likely his first hip surgery in 2021 virtually ended his career, Then he had his wrist repaired and another major hip surgery.
He didn’t go all out in Spring Training? Are you freaken kidding me?
But Cancer? Give me a break.
I think people believe exactly the story reporters with agendas want you to believe.
Blum is a hack. He’s basically the agenda driven reporter I’m talking about.
Rendon wasn’t a good interview, wouldn’t answer his questions and Blum made it his personal mission to make him look bad.
I have no respect for Blum.
@Halo Rendon had surgery for a hip impingement which is very rarely a career ending injury. This notion being portrayed here that all hip injuries are the same is absolutely false.
The most serious hip injuries are and have been trauma injuries such as fractures and tears. This is due to a high risk of blood clots with the log recovery of bones and tears in that region. The trauma injuries also often impact blood supply and can permanently damage bone density.
Rendon did not have to deal with the lengthy recovery of a fracture or tear. He had an area on socket or need of bone cleaned up for anything that might ve been causing irritation moving in that socket. That is what these injuries are and is widely known which are worse and why.
And yes many who are even loosely familiar with anatomy and sports medicine know quite well that Rendon’s hip impingement was absolutely not a trauma injury.
It’s not “career ending” but you don’t come back the same. Look at Jacoby Ellsbury. You are not the same player.
Hitting, running, throwing….you’re not the same.
Give me a list of players that have had that surgery, and how do you know exactly what the hip surgery was?
It’s likely he the lies that he took a swing at a fan’s head…a complete like. He slapped at the bill of a cap. If that was such an awful act…why did these reporters lie?
@Tigers3232
What injuries have you sustained personally as a result of playing sport?
The reason I ask is that you seem to be clueless about what you consider to be ‘minor’ or ‘miniscule’ injuries and your expectations of recovery.
Do you know that sometimes doctors get it wrong doing surgery as well?
I’ve had broken bones from playing sport, one such instance done by an opponent deliberately. I have also had torn ligaments that never actually recovered to 100%.. Some injuries from sport affect your life till you leave earth.
Hip impingements, and especially where it involves the greater trochanter can cause significant pain. You do not know exactly what nerves were impinged with Rendon, no one can know. Now to add in his hand injury as well, look at Ozzie Albies as an example. He’s now had a broken hamate twice. Do you expect him to be the same player?
As for Rendon being abused and giving it back to the idiot fan, he’s more than entitled to do so, and I love him for it. Most of these imbeciles that go to the ballpark to talk trash wouldn’t have a clue what it takes to hit a 40 mph fastball or hit a ball off a hitting tee, let alone 70 or 80mph.
You can quote all the statistics you like on sports medicine or sports injuries, recovery from hip surgery etc. Some players/athletes don’t always recover to 100%, they may be in the lower range but nothing is guaranteed.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5825336/
@Halo I know what the surgery was because I know what his injury is. Injuries are given a medical term descriptive of what the injury is.
I have broke it done in layman’s terms in detail. So lets not try and talk around reality.
I never specifically mentioned any particular fan interaction. But what you are mentioning you are speculating on what’s been reported. And if he slapped at the bill of someone’s hat, that is still assault by definition of law and absolutely unprofessional.
Ellsbury suffered a tear which is a trauma injury as I explained above, it is not the same injury as Rendon and is more serious.
Here’s a study from back in 2011 on hip impingement surgery which showed a 95% success rate in pro athletes. Add in 10 years of scientific advances as well.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21709026/
The same as Elsburry. How’d that work out for him?
According to Grok, same injury.
Ellsbury had a tear, that id a trauma injury with a rupture or a break. That is a totally different and more severe inury, I want into detail on this above.
@Halo According to science it is not…
@McGriff What you are describing are trauma injuries forcing surgery. Yes trauma injuries typically have more complications. Bo Jackson’s career ended due to complications of a trauma injury.
Rendon however had impingement which is not a trauma surgery. The outcome for non trauma injuries have been far more positive and with far less complications. With trauma injuries the damage dictates scope of work and locations . Planned procedures surgeons have much more control leading to far less damage, complications l, scar tissue, etc.
Haloand others in this thread have just lumped all hip injuries into one group as equals. Thats simply about as far from reality as you can get.
Yes the injury might ve had an impact on Rendon while he played through it. The surgery he had to deal with it was unplanned procedure with an almost always positive outcome opposed to hip injuries caused by trauma. Cleaning the sockets of joints is very common these days and in no way something that typically ends careers.
@Tigers3232. Rendon went back to Houston after his injuries, people gloss over that fact. When trout is injured he was still in the dugout and cheering on the team. Halo11 wants to say it’s hit pieces from the media and call people hacks, but there’s a difference between him and a professional. Rendon just packs it up and goes home. Trout fulfills his contract and sees the teams doctors. Rendon just smiles and collected the checks. Why did Rendon wait before the season started to get the surgery. Why has he seen 9 doctors when they said he fine the season before. He’s a scumbag. In the name of the lord Jesus christ
Rando, what is 87.5 WAR worth? Over $700 million.
How much has Trout been paid? $320 million.
How much is he owed? $186 million.
The Angels have already received more from the Trout contract than they will pay him. He could get injured and never play another game and the team will come out ahead.
Tiger, they scraped the bone in Rendon’s hip. That is almost always a career ending surgery. It was not a simple impingement.
No player returned to put up anything above replacement level stats in the first year back, except Rendon. Only one player ever put up 1.0 WAR after the surgery at any point in their career after that surgery. Rendon.
The recovery time is 6-8 months. Rendon had the surgery in August. He was hoping to be ready by spring training.
“Anthony Rendon will have season-ending hip surgery and be out for an extended period.”
“General manager Perry Minasian told reporters that the 31-year-old third baseman will be out long term.”
“The Angels’ third baseman is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery”
Not sure why you choose to try to impugn Rendon by giving out misinformation.
Tigers you keep trying to say hip impingement. That does not require scraping the bone as the injury did in Rendon’s case. You are trying to compare apples to oranges.
There were 23 professional athletes in the study you linked to no where does it say that they returned to pre-operative levels of performance in their sport. Just that they returned to participating in their sport, “most athletes were able to resume activities.” That is comparing apples to oranges.
In baseball, no position players that have had to have the femoral head or socket of their hip shaved (debridement) due to injury have returned to pre-operative levels of performance. None.
Ellsbury, Arod, and other position players have had soft-tissue hip surgery and none of them returned to pre-operative levels of performance.
I had FAI debridement while I was in AA in 1981 and my career was immediately over. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Career over. Yes medical technology has come a long way, but no one has ever returned to pre-operative levels of performance on the baseball field as a position player after the hip debridement surgery that Rendon had performed on his hip in 2021.
An impinegement is friction in a joint. Fixing impingement is simply scraping the end of bone so it moves smoothly in the socket.
The procedure is fairly common and is in no way as problematic as a trauma injury such as a fracture or a tear.
I have given out no misinformation.
Kershaw and Cahna came back and posted far more WAR. There have only been a handful of players who have had just just a cleanup of hip socket like Rendon. Most have it done when they are being operated on for a tear or fracture.
But AGAIN the big risks for hip injuries are all linked to trauma injuries, which AGAIN is not when Rendon had.
Sorry Skip but I believe you are lying about the fictions portion you added about yourself.
But FYI that procedure is a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure bow which it was not in 1981.
Arthroscopic Debridement of the Hip | Mercy Health share.google/ptBcr6nkatjh6hFoj
And FYI the procedure was only done on cadavers in 1981. Was until 1986 that it was done on first patient. HAHA
@Websoul I in no way knocked Rendon down. I gave accurate information of what the different types of hip injuries are and which Rendon had.
Fungo on the other hand made up a story about how he had a procedure 5 yrs before it had ever been done on a living patient.
Providing accurate information is intelligently discussing it. Claiming someone did something that they have not, not so much. Which btw this is the 2nd time now you have claimed I have knocked Rendon, you care to provide one example of where I have personally attacked him??
@Websoul I have not posted one thing directly knocking Rendon. I have questioned his motivation and especially his professionalism. But I have not made a single false claim.
I have questioned you now twice to provide an example of your false claims. At least you understand and wven admit lying as you have been is sick and pathetic on your part. What Id say also is would be someone such as yourself who not only lies but lies and attacks anyone who does not share the same opinion as them.
If you are here to even discuss baseball let alone intelligently, it requires respecting others opinions. You however seem to have zero interest in discussing anything, you just want others to hear your opinion as though it is fact. I sincerely hope you are able to find whatever validation you do desperately seek…
All you have given is misinformation.
Kershaw is not a position player. Canha had a soft-tissue injury.
I took your advice. Only person I have felt required that action so far.
Mark Canha diagnosed with hip impingement share.google/fgabcYSrFuK4ZiKbs
I see reading comprehension is as much of an issue as honesty with you.
You here to just argue? Hilarious though that you would fabricate a story amd claim to have a procedure prior to it ever having been done…..
@tigers3232. I farted and crapped myself. I say you guys both won a participation trophy. Rendon is a tough case to Crack, but the fact when he get’s hurt he goes to Houston. Trout jumps through the hoops and is in the dugout. That doesn’t sit well with me and I think he’s a p.o.s.
If they had gotten Strasburg at that juncture, the deal would have been just as bad for them. Rendon and Stras were two of the top players in baseball that season. I will always be grateful for what they did for the Nationals. No ill will for Rendon. Injuries happen. He was injured a lot while playing for Rice.
Alex Cobb would like a word.
They paid the guy to play the game, he did everything but that. I feel bad for the angels.
Which angels: the God ones or the California team created by the dude who sang Rudolph the Rednosed reindeer?
let’s check in with the Blue Jays in 2 years with this Dylan Cease deal.
Yeah-Angels got scammed. It’s too bad b/c he earned a big deal as consistent star of a WS winner and then didn’t care to reward the club for faith in his ability.
They got scammed eh? This seems like of an overly simplistic comment.
Call it as you wish no worries. Some things like this aren’t overly complicated.
Look the fact of the matter is the Angels gave 245 million bucks to a guy who admitted he really hated playing baseball. So no matter what you call it I think we can all admit it was really stupid and completely lacked any research of the player at all. He was just something shiny they wanted for their fantasy team.
He never said he hated playing baseball. That’s a bald face lie.
It’s just weird that people are just shoving their own words into his mouth LOL
So saying Baseball is boring, I just do this for a job, it’s less important thing to me screams what to You guys? LMAO. Read what you want whatever way you want I read it as I hate my job. Angels fans wow. No wonder the team is a bunch if losers, Hires losers, pays losers and are in fact, Losers. No wonder Moreno is still there. If the fans are this dumb then why not fleece them.
He was signed by Arte as a knee-jerk reaction froom losing out on Garrett Cole to the Yankees. Baseball is such a difficult game to play. Realistically, long term contracts will have diminishing returns. My arguement against Rendon is that he never tried to connect with the fans or his teammates.
The biggest factor is that Trout was hurt at the same time. The Angels could never replace Trout’s production or the potential production from a healthy Rendon.
What is truly astounding are the otherwise sensible and trustworthy mlbtr posters who have developed this really soft spot for poor Anthony Rendon. Who is probably one of the least sympathetic and deplorable characters in MLB over the last quarter century. In fact his entire fanbase might be represented here in these comments by the half-dozen or so guys speaking up in his favor. Somebody should print up some “Anthony Rendon Fan Club #1 Fan” t-shirts for them all!!
CWSpTell me how he scammed the Angels. Did he bribe the doctors to make up phoney injuries?
How did he manipulate the system? Tell us what you know and what are your statements based on.
Arte did. I’m pretty sure nobody thought signing Rendon to any decent / long contract was a good idea. I remember hearing rumors he was leaning towards retirement after the end of his Washington contract.
Why would there be talks of Rendon retiring after a 146 game 6 WAR season? I heard nothing of the sort.
@knicks I dont even know where I heard it, either.. but seeing as he’s basically been “anti-baseball” during most of his contract with the Angels, one can only wonder if there’s some kernel of truth.
My memory of the issue is that he said he put family ahead of baseball and many construed that to mean that he was anti baseball. Really he was just saying that baseball wasn’t the priority in his life.
You didn’t hear it except in your head. He never said he was anti-baseball either. He said he valued his faith and his family more than baseball and that is how it should be for anyone that can call themselves a man. There is no kernel there.
Well the Rangers and Dodgers both made long term offers, and both have won the WS since, so I wouldn’t say nobody thought it was a good idea. (And those were just the ones we know about.)
Everyone thought it was an incredibly good signing when it happened and in 2020 it looked like it would be after a 150 OPS+ and 2.2 WAR in that shortened season.
Then in 2021 he suffered a hip injury that is usually a death knell for an athlete in any sport. He kept trying to play even after the surgery which is a testament to how much he wanted to play.
Rendon wasn’t exactly “leaning towards retirement” in the 2019-2020 offseason.
Many people including me found his combination of 2019-2020 offseason comments suggesting he’d be out of baseball before turning 36 and his decision not to play for the Dodgers peculiar for an otherwise Championship caliber player.
The angels swindled themselves with so many bad deals over the years
Ridiculous. He might not be the friendliest most dedicated player, but he didn’t try to get hurt, and he tried to figure it out. There have been numerous players over the years who got hurt and couldn’t live up to expectations, but just because he said his family is more important than baseball he gets extra criticism. Don’t hear that for the players who yak on and on about how some ethereal being has blessed their lives, but living his family is somehow wrong.
Agreed. Like his Washibgton team mate Stras. Two terrible deals in hind sight.
Coming from a guy that thinks people that disagree with him politically deserve death. Hilarious you are defending a guy that probably has politics of someone you want to die
How do you figure? In his first season with the Angels he was very good. Only Ramirez was better at 3B. Then he suffered a hip injury in 2021 and has had surgeries on both of his hips since then. Each one of those surgeries would end your career as an athlete and he kept trying to come back. He got hit by a pitch in 2022 and had to have surgery. He had a fractured tibia in 2023. He tried to return even though that bone carries much of your weight. Running must have been excruciating. It is no surprise that he was unable to return from this last hip surgery in 2025. What was a surprise was that he kept trying.
People that call into question the toughness of people going through things that would have kept the keyboard warriors in their bed crying for their mommas are ….
Well, you fill in the negative adjective.
If he wanted to continue honoring his contract he had to try to keep coming back. To what extent he was motivated by $ I obviously dont know.
What I fault him for is his lack od humility and disregard for his employer and its fans. He is an adult and has been compensated very well, part of the career he chose is becoming a public figure and in my opinion that is where he truly failed.
It’s the same crap. These that complain the most do the same thing at their jobs. Can’t stand when someone else appears to do the same thing
Part of the system. Players, agents, teams, owners, media and to lesser extent, fans
Moreno hadn’t learned from the last dozen or so times. I can’t really blame Rendon for taking advantage.
No one is gonna miss this clown.
Tell us how he “Swindled” the Angels
Nothing stopped the Angels from taking out an insurance policy against that contract.
The irrational hate on the article is sickening. Rendon had a great season in 2020 and then had a terrible injury in 2021. He was the first player in MLB history to return from the surgery he had and produce 1 WAR or more. Most players never returned to playing after that surgery. Until 2024, all of the injuries he had required surgery. Wrist in 2022. Broken leg in 2023. What is wrong with most of you?
I don’t think A Concerned Citizen is going to do an episode on him.
I heard he sings, and plays his guitar now? 🎸 🎤
So does it go:
1) family
2)faith
3)music
4)lawn care
5)red hat wearing
6)nascar…..
29)baseball
Now?
Does that mean they could save money ?
Maybe but it could just be paying the final amount in installments. I just don’t see what’s in it for Rendon since it’s the last year of the deal. I guess he doesn’t have to go through the motions. They will certainly release him quick if he’s bad.
It might be that Rendon simply doesnt want to join the team at home and in travel. Maybe he is willing to give back some millions to just end it.
Rendon’s former Nationals teammate is now the incoming team manager. Maybe it’s just coincidence but Suzuki (and Eaton) may have helped the team reach some sort of agreement with Rendon.
@armaments216. I know Papelbon has commented on rendon before saying he always drug his feet in practice with his head down like it was chore, and it rubbed alot teammates the wrong way, this was after his comments about how the season needs to shorter. Maybe Suzuki and Eaton weren’t fans of him, and want him gone.
I don’t see what a short term money grab would do for the Angels. It’s not like they’re a poor pennyless franchise that needs to make some room on the margins. It’s also not like they’re right on the cusp of it and need to make a big splash to put themselves over the top.
If they rework his deal to defer money, why would you commit future dollars from seasons you’d theoretically be more likely to be a winning? You stink now and aren’t going to be that much better right away.
@col. He could take less or atleast im hoping for that. Probably just talking to see what he’s willing to do, but agree it might make more sense to just eat the contract this year, get one year contracts and flip them this year.
@Col The drferral will have to be funded after the season and will be charged accordingly against this year’s luxury tax. It has zero impact on future seasons. It also would clear up a roster spot.
Moreno likes to line his pockets.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think the players union will go for that. It’s probably just making the payments more palatable.
@tang it. Someone just did it last year, forgot who. Gil meche did for sure. 15aav the next two years and leaving 8 million on the table seems reasonable for someone that’s only played 50 games in three years.
It depends on what Rendon is willing to take in a settlement to retire. He is well within his rights to say pay me.
The Angels may have insurance on him and they get paid if he doesn’t play at all that year. If he retires they do not get that insurance money.
Or they could agree on deferred payments. Rendon would get all $38 million, just not this year. Inflation would eat away some of that value over time, but it’s probably worth something for him not to be rehabbing or traveling for 7+ months.
Other way around. Insurance kicks in only when he is forced to retire for health reasons. If he’s just out for a year it does not. Insurance payouts are very rare (which is why it’s affordable).
Insurance is exorbitantly expensive. Every article I have read places the cost of insurance for MLB players between 10% and 15% the coverage amount and only pays 80%. Teams only get paid if a player misses the entire season. If he steps on the field at all or the team signs a settlement with a player to induce retirement the team does not recieve insurance payment of any kind.
Every policy is not the same, the details very by what is negotiated with insurer. The policies are all going to be quite expensive and have very specific terms as to when the policy will pay out.
Yeah, insurance really only kicks in when you have traumatic, life or limb threatening injuries like Prince Fielder or Albert Belle had.
I wish I had enough athletic ability to score a nice contract and then milk it and retire young. I think I played more games in MLB the last 3 years than Rendon.
At least just as many…
Rendon played in 100 games after having a hip surgery which normally ends athletic careers and then a broken leg. I doubt you played that many games in MLB The Show. which is as close as you got to a major league field.
Hip impingements do not normally end careers. Hip fractures and dislocations are the hip injuries that typically end pro athletes careers.
Possibly the worst MLB contract ever per value received by the team.
Crazy that both Rendon and Strasburg signed identical 7/245m contracts only 4 days apart after playing for the same team. Rendon hit 22 homeruns, Strasburg pitched 31 innings.
Nationals knew something we didn’t know
Boras knew something he didn’t fully disclose. Many of his clients are injured
If the Nats knew something they would not have signed Strasburg.
Citizens- Players have physicals performed before a contract can be finalized. Owners take out insurance on these contracts.
I’d still put Stephen Strasburg as the worst. At least Rendon contributed SOMETHING. Chris Davis is probably worse as well.
Strasburgs deal was clearly less productive than Rendon’s but it also wasn’t as painful. He was a known injury risk who gave his all for the team to win a ring the year before, the Nats rewarded him, and then he suffered the big one. There’s been numerous stories about his inability to use his arm now for basic tasks. It didn’t drag out for years and the team was in a rebuild anyway. Fans certainly don’t have a negative view of Stephen.
By any team…
Strasburg has entered the chat.
And Kris Bryant’s with the Colorado Rockies is the 2nd worst
Bryant’s is bad, but not as bad as Rendon or Chris Davis.
The Dodgers bid more for Rendon than the Angels. Does anyone remember that?
The Chris Davis deal was just stupid given his profile. At least Rendon and Bryant were HoF-track 3B at the time they were signed.
The end of an error!
Comment section winner is here y declared. Good job sir.
Congrats on the retirement, you’ll now be able to spend your money on something you actually like to do….IE not baseball.
He’s been doing that for years
What guy that Redon it! $245 mill. works out to $224,000 per plate appearance and $11.1 million per home run. What a bargain!
Fun fact, 1 of those HRs came from the left side of the plate in his only plate appearance from the left side where he took a swing. 2 total plate appearances from that side.
Why was he batting lefty? Is it a joke I don’t realize
If I remember correctly, Rendon had attempted switch hitting as an amateur and just for laughs occasionally took a few batting practice pitches as a left-handed hitter.
His two left-handed plate appearances came late in one or two blowouts with a position player on the mound.
I’m not a Rendon fan but do like that he figured he’d help make one or two blowout game ABs interesting by hitting lefty.
Halos were up huge and Rendon was facing a position player on the mound, so he took an AB lefty and hit over the right field fence lol
And it was in Detmers Ho-Hitter.
Yeah, nice gig.
Strasburg made 7.9m for each inning pitched and 1.475m for each batter faced.
The Nats probably had the best long-term pitching contract in Scherzer and the worst in Strasburg paying at the same time.
Well said, brother. The thing with Stras is that he didnt hate baseball and liked living in the DMV. He doesnt get along with the team, now, which is unfortunate, because he and Zim are Nationals icons. I think Stras cared, which I cant definitively say same about Rendon. Ultimately, though, two bad contracts but both were huge in winning the title.
I wonder how much he got paid per catheter.
Yeah, he’s a malingerer who would rather get two hip surgeries than play baseball?
Angels in play for Bregman….?lol.
As Angels fan. I hope.
Bohm (and something else) for Adell.
Thus guy seems to hate baseball as much as Jackson Merrill loves it. Just a strange situation all around.
If this amounts to a long-term deferrel, it could possibly mean the Angels will aggressively go full throttle in to Hot Stove activity. I can see the Angels being aggressive in position player pursuits and adding another two arms for the rotation. They could be trading from a surplus of young minor leaguers. The Angels actually have a plethora of interesting arms in the lower minors that are at least 2 years away from making a big impact.
One Arm. The plan is to use Kikuchi, Soriano and Detmers. They added Rodriguez, and there are some half-assed options in the minors, so they should only need one.
@kellin. Probably two I wouldn’t mind lorenzen and mahle. Rodriguez could be the sixth man. We all know someone will get hurt.
I’d take the payout deferred over several years. Good retirement plan and it’s legal in MLB.
Worst contract of all time.
Nah. I would say the Boniila contract from an Owners standpoint. Paying a guy for years and years after he retires is nonsense
At least our team spends money.
A whopping 3.9 WAR in 5 seasons with the Angels
Don’t forget to include this year. Its a six year contract.
Go directly to jail. Do not pass GO. Do not collect $38M.
Dear lord please let this come true
Is this the beginning of the Angels making smarter baseball moves?
To be fair, hiring Mike Maddux may have been the beginning of the Angels making smarter baseball moves.
He might have been the one who suggested the buyout. No one else had figured it out previously.
Honestly, I could see the Angels coming out of this meeting with Rendon extended… Seems like a very Angels thing to do.
Not really indicative of anything. This is the Angels only trying to clear Rendon out of a roster spot next season and move on.
Rendon has every reason not to retire early and collect his full $38M. It’s simply long-term restructuring of his salary payout to make it equitable for him while the Angels gain some additional cash flow.
The knock on Rendon even before he was drafted was that he was “injury prone” and would not play, obvious he didn’t enjoy the game but was smart enough to give one years effort to get a lifetime contract. Angels need to erase his name from their records as if he never existed because he didn’t for them.
Wait….I always enjoyed predicting how many games he would play before the he suffered his season ending injury ! Now you got big shoes to fill Kris Bryant
Kris Bryant come on down!
It seems like Bryant would play if he could.
Yeah that dude loves to ball. Seems like a good dude with unfortunate injuries.
If Rendon retires before the season begins and he is paid as a consultant rather than a player, does his salary still count for the luxury tax?
Nope.
He would be paid like a government consultant in that case!
Any salary that is part of the settlement is included in the teams CBT calculations. It doesn’t matter if it is deferred or if he does something else for the team for that money. Only if he forgoes any payment from the team is it not part of their CBT calculations.
Yes
Young player (who is suffering through a 0 for 30 stretch): Coach, I don’t know what to do. I changed my swing, I took BP twice today, I hit without gloves for a week, I can’t get a hit.
Coach Rendon: Shuttup, all this baseball crap is boring.
final #s with the angels
(257 games)
22 hr, 125 rbi, .242 avg, 112 runs, 224 hits
almost a full million $ for every game he played as an angel, $1.1mil for every hit, $2mil for every rbi, $11.1 mil for every hr he hit
sweet baby jesus
Holy.
I’m pretty sure the Carlos Estevez earned around 11 million.
JFC, the Rendon contract makes me feel soooo much better about the Chris Davis contract.
Dumpster fires look at the Rendon contract and say “DAMN SON.”
Still, I always look at the Davis deal and go, “What if that $ went to Markakis and Andrew Miller instead?”
Truthfully, I didn’t think he played in THAT many games for them.
Final #s with the Angels
Before knee contusion 2020-May 2021:
(67 games)
12 HR, 42 RBI
.283/.403/.490
2.7 WAR
After injury:
(190 games)
10 HR, 83 RBI
.227/.327/.325
1.2 WAR
It would be cool if Rendon gives the Angels back some of that money.
It would be really cool if Rendon had not had to have two surgeries to repair his hips and another to repair a broken tibia and another to repair a broken wrist. It would be really cool if keyboard warriors knew what they were talking about before they spewed hate about a player just because he collects on the contract a team signed him too before he had injuries caused by playing baseball.
It’s interesting because the beginning of the end occurred in early 2021. I truly believe that this foul ball off the inside of his knee caused the hamstring/hip problem that he never fully recovered from.
At the time, he was hitting .276/.348/.466, not far off his career numbers to that point.
baseball-reference.com/boxes/ANA/ANA202105030.shtm…
After the injury he hit .226/.322/.352, numbers he was kind of stuck at for the remainder of his career.
This is a video of the injury:
mlb.com/orioles/video/anthony-rendon-on-his-bone-b…
For good measure, here’s video of his 2023 broken tibia.
mlb.com/news/anthony-rendon-reveals-he-has-fractur…
His other injuries? Who knows. He had wrist surgery in 2022, but that was the only significant non-core injury he had.
And maybe he’s to blame for not rehabilitating properly? No idea.
I don’t know, but no one can argue that this is a contract that simply did not work out.
^^^^ found Rendon’s burner account.
lol.
Not an apologist but rather a realist.
That is Rendon’s reverend.
It would be really cool if a baseball player didn’t go on about he didn’t care about baseball while collecting 30+ million a year.
It would be even cooler if fans read the entire interview before commenting. That apparently is too much to ask for. Fans would rather spout off with little or no knowledge of what was actually said.
Riiiiiight.
You know, the Angels get a lot of rightly deserved grief for horribly mismanaging the last 15ish years, it’s all deserved. But between Hamilton, Pujols, and Rendon they signed 22 years worth of contracts on elite caliber players, and got 3 total years of star performance. You expect back-end decline on these contracts, but that’s also just stupid-bad luck. Between that, two pitchers literally dying, and Trout’s injury decline starting the very moment Ohtani became a superstar, this team just feels cursed.
It’s all the clubs owners fault…
I don’t know about Hamilton the player other than he had issues that went far beyond the playing field. That was not a player that I would have signed. The other two I definitely would have
3 of the first 4 seasons of Pujols time with the Angels were good. 4.8, 3.9, and 3.1 WAR. In 2014 they won 98 games and went to the playoffs. He was never the Pujols of his mid 20s, but he was good those first few years with the Angels.
Rendon was one of the top 3B in his first season with the Angels. Only Ramirez was a better 3B in the shortened 2020 season. Then he had a hip injury and surgery in 2021 that usually ends a player’s career.
Right, so as I said, they got a hefty dose of bad luck to go with their horrible mismanagement. No one expects to sign 22 years worth of elite talent to get 3.5 good years in return. Hamilton had off field issues for sure, and it was always a dicey long term proposition, but they baked that into only making the deal 5 years coming off 5 straight all-star campaigns, an MVP, and MVP votes in 4 of those 5 years. Was there risk? Sure. Does any team expect to get *nothing* from a deal? No.
No one that isn’t delusional will deny that Arte Moreno’s meddling has been detrimental to that team. The way the Rendon contract has played out has been bad luck, not mismanagement, Rendon was exceptionally good in 2020, the first year of that deal, then had a serious injury in 2021. One that usually ends a player’s career.
In my opinion, the Angels biggest problem has been their owner valuing selling tickets more than winning. That and how he spends money only on the major league team and not on baseball development.
It really is remarkable how much Moreno’s background in advertising is reflected in his ownership of the team. He’s obsessed with the marketing of the team (see: Los Angeles rebranding), and making splashy acquisitions (Rendon, Pujols, Hamilton, CJ Wilson, etc) that grab headlines, but has absolutely no concern with the core product beyond selling it. No investment in scouting or the minors, no upkeep of player facilities, poor coaching staffs, etc etc. And because he’s so immensely successful elsewhere in the world, he can’t be convinced that he isn’t necessarily the foremost expert on this.
Candy, that might be the best description of Arte Moreno I have read.
Either way Arte is paying Rendon not to play.
At the time of the deal, the narrative on Rendon was wholly different. Every FA deal of note is an overpay, but Rendon was an incredibly consistent and valuable player. Good defense; a very good bat and a level of real consistency…folks even called him a gamer and a winner.
Today, his name is Mudd.
Not to players. They see what he has gone through just to try to stay on the field. Only keyboard warriors try to denigrate what he has done and what he has been through.
Do nothing and get millions. Do nothing and get less millions. Just drive your car in everyday and watch a ballgame from the dugout. Why would he do this? I guess that’s chump change when you have so much.
That contract might be the worst ever. There’s been some bad ones over the years but wow this one was bad.
Rendon’s Angels highlight video will consist of one feat: hitting a home run left-handed off Rays position player Brett Phillips during Reid Detmer’s no-hitter.
Does this mean that he’ll wear an Angels hat or the Nationals logo on his Hall of Fame plaque?
That stuff is too boring. He is not interested.
Hat or logo. That makes a lot of sense…lol NOT
The 2019 Nationals truly sold their souls to defeat the Astros
Just go away
But don’t go away mad.
Rendon, Hamilton, Trout, Pujols, Upton. Over 1 billion dollars in bad contracts. All for the same team. All in the last 15 years. Yikes.
And people give the Rockies grief! (well they deserve most of it, but still)
I was going to add CJ Wilson to the list but checked him out before doing so. He doesn’t deserve to be lumped in with these guys
Yes most are bad contracts. But at least they are trying. There are many teams not even trying.
Dont call Trout out, just yet. He was a decent player in 2025, he may be back on the mend for 2026. I’m not saying he will, just that he could.
I would also say Pujols wasn’t that bad. I think he was at least 2-3 years older than he said he was when he signed, but it was one of the contracts to go for it now and pay later so it was pretty backloaded if I remember right. But he still hit HRs and would drive in 100 each year so I couldn’t complain too much. He started declining when he turned like 38-39 but who doesn’t.
Trout said he figured it out. He wasn’t following the ball correctly. A day later he was hitting HR’s all over the place. Hopefully it carries over to 2026 and beyond.
Imagine if they were all healthy and productive.
I would probably be incredibly resentful to both the front office and Rendon if this occurred on my team. But the Angels are such a poorly run organization that I can’t help but laugh
Thank God
LOL
Rendon can’t play. He has had a surgery on both hips that ends baseball careers after just one. I have not seen him in any appearances lately, but it would be miraculous if he is walking without a pronounced limp.
Go spend time with Amanda and the kids and take whatever buyout the Angels will give you to retire.
Hopefully the Angels are getting some kind of insurance relief, if they had it.
It would be great to recoup even a fraction of next seasons salary to put towards FA additions to fill in the many needs this club needs.
If he retires then the insurance policy would not pay them.
Just guessing on insurance.
I don’t see why Rendon would bother negotiating if there was no reason. Perhaps the Angels just want the contract over with or are extending it out so it’s not all do this season.
I’m interested to see what the Angels gain by doing this.
For the Angels paying that money out over lets say 10 years would free up cash flow in 2026. They would still pay him the money, it just wouldn’t come out of their bank all in one year.
I think the Insurance only works if he retires due to a injury that happened in a game.
Anthony Rendon’s retirement ceremony:
Today (today, today)
I consider myself (self, self)
The luckiest man on the face of the Earth (ch-ching, ch-ching).
A lot of mid takes here, as is expected.
Rendon produced at an elite level for years before signing his contract and then got injured.
How many players have it go the other way? How many get injured before they get a chance to sign that but contact? How many provide tens of millions of dollars worth of production to their teams while getting paid relative peanuts?
Way don’t we hear comments like
“The team swindled that performance from the player”?
Or, “I wish I had enough athletic ability for a team to benefit off my using my body up for them”?
Or “Probably the worst contract ever for a player”?
And as to the dumb idea Rendon hates baseball. What he said was that his family and faith are more important to him than baseball. I, as an atheist, think faith is pretty dumb, but it makes sense, I think, to value your family more than your career. I think, and I hope, most everyone hating on Rendon for it, feels the same.
Already drinking for the holidays, eh?
It would appear so…
Already hating for the holidays?
Mid take
GOATed name, PR.
OI OI OI!!!
It’s true. The Nationals got something like 30 fWAR for $38M off Rendon’s rookie signing and arbitration years, a relative pittance. The outrage only extends one way when the CBA, by design, artificially suppresses young players’ earning potential and keeps them under team control until most players are closer to their decline than their prime. No one should complain about Rendon’s FA contract bust; hate the game, not the player.
I’ll give a follow-up to say Angels fans can gripe about Rendon’s contract lol.
This is the same argument people like Kris Bryant uses to justify his big contract with no performance. Like, I get that maybe it evens out for you, but it’s only fair if the same team that gets all that cheap performance is the one paying you as you crumble with a huge salar.y. It’s unfair to Rockies (and Angels) fans.
As someone who had to sit through the terrible overpay and bad attitude of Eric Hosmer, I get the very human response of disliking a player eating up valuable salary/roster/payroll space and being a total dud. I’m only saying that these contracts are a foreseeable outcome from a free agency system that keeps players under cheap team control for what is almost always their most productive seasons.
Calm down, Anthony.
Rendon said baseball is not a priority or a passion for him, but a way to make a living. He also said there should be fewer games (quote: We need to shorten that bad boy.”).The “Rendon hates baseball” stuff comes from noted voice of reason Jonathan Papelbon, who said:
“I can definitely confirm Carrabis here…
Played with Rendon and literally hates baseball. Yeah it’s long isn’t that what you signed up for??? Just tell the team you want to play half the season and give back half your salary!!!!!”
Can the Angels buy out Trout’s remaining contract as well?
And also have a new owner buy out the current owner? 🤔
Yeah sure. But funny thing is Trout would have 29 other teams willing sign him up
You sound jealous he’s NOT on your team.
This guy is coming in for a lot of hate. Can people explain why? There are plenty of bad contracts, and injuries play a roll in most of them.
Most of the hate he’s getting is from the “love of the game” purists – in other words, people who don’t play the game at a professional enough level to keep in mind that MLB Baseball is a business.
Sure, Anthony Rendon did wrong by the sport, but as he’s said, his family is a priority – and he more than did right by them by signing a monster contract, barely having to suit up for it, and getting to spend the majority of the time the Angels paid him for with his wife and kids.
How did Rendon do wrong by the sport? He got hurt playing baseball. He kept trying to play through an injury that ends almost all athletic careers.
Rendon went on record numerous times admitting he hated baseball as a form of entertainment- called games long and boring to watch- and he hated playing the game. He also notoriously tried to convince teams to pay him his $250M goal only over 4 or 5 years to avoid playing as much as possible while still getting that level of money- then basically peaced out on the game the oment the ink dried on the Angels deal.
He committed fraud, to some degree.
Why lie when we can go read exactly what he said. How sad that you think that you can lie without repercussions.
I think Skip’s Fungo is Anthony Rendon. I’m not even joking or being sarcastic.
That you, Anthony?
“without repercussions.” lol
Anthony Rendon doesn’t care enough about baseball to be reading an article on MLB Trade Rumors, let alone comment
SF
“Why lie when we can go read exactly what he said. How sad that you think that you can lie without repercussions.”
I don’t think they are lying
You have to know what you’re saying is false for it to be a lie.
I think these people actually believe this idiotic takes
“Rendon went on record numerous times admitting he hated baseball as a form of entertainment- called games long and boring to watch- and he hated playing the game”
Citation requested
“He committed fraud, to some degree.”
People like this are why I’d be terrified of going on trial if I were innocent. But think be thrilled for the jury system of I were guilty. There are so many people who will just come to whatever conclusion despite the evidence.
Guys a legend. Made more millions than he had hits for the Angels.
Is Jed Hoyer calling to see if he can trade for him? Lolol
Don’t give him any ideas he hasn’t already thought of.
3.7 fWAR through the life of the contract is crazy. An answer to, “what does $245M buy you these days?”
Most shocking yet least shocking news of all time
What’s better than getting paid well to do what you love? Nothing.
But a close second is getting paid extremely well to not to something you don’t love.
Hey khris meet Anthony
Bryant next ?
After the Nats won it all in 2019 who would have imagined that for the rest of their careers Rendon would total 3.9 BWAR and Strasburg -0.5.
They were something else during that title run.
When Rendon played for Washington he stated that baseball games are “long and boring” and he doesn’t enjoy watching. He has stated that baseball is just a job. That was never a way to endear fans who pay his salary. The contract was a crappy joke from day one.
An early Christmas present for Angels fans. Now, we need Arte to sell the team.
Worst contract in MLB history. Dodgers don’t win three titles if this dude takes their offer, which was supposedly much better than the Angels’.
Simply put, things did not turn out well for both sides
Did anyone catch in the article where they typed 202o, they have an o instead of a zero
Will free up money for Arte to eff it up again.
He seemed to genuinely fleece the angels of the entire contract, good riddance. Completely tainted his legacy by being a cry baby ahout losing interest after getting paid 35 mill a season
The Dodgers are the Varsity. The Angels are the JV team. Arte Moreno is a clown owner.
Let’s not forget the Varsity was interested in signing him. Thankfully, he hated the LA lifestyle.
Yeah, I remember Angels fans celebrating Rendon choosing Anaheim over LA. Good times….
This should serve as a cautionary tale of why teams should probably explore short-term big money deals over long term deals that almost never payoff.
The Rangers probably dodged the biggest bullet in free agency ever by not signing him
At this point wouldn’t he just say keep the change Artie ? Calling 38 million change is crazy to 99.9% of us. What do you call the rest of contract. Smh I sincerely don’t know what to call it but remember it takes 2 to tango or something like that.
Finally!
J D Drew and Jacob Ellisbury come to mind guys who wanted to get paid, but didn’t want to play. Good riddance, and hopefully the last we hear of him.
So how will that work? Rendon pays the angels to get out of his contract and retire?
Rendon should give back the remaining money. Good riddance the cry baby is now gone
the MLBPA will never allow that.
Give back you pay when you call it in at work Big Mike
Always thought the Covid year just really lowered his already low to desire to play. Had won the series, signed a big contract, was known for not really loving the game and then Covid season happened. Whether he basically was like I’m set for life so I’m just going to be a regular father/husband and be at home or he just broke down like a wet paper bag it’s tough contract to look at whichever way you look at it.
Rendon or Chris Davis for worst contract ever
Rendon is a disgrace to baseball. So many would have loved the opportunity to play in the majors. Please take whatever offer the Angels give you and go home.
Remember how this went down.
Arte was used as a foil by Gerrit Cole to get more money out of NY. He was never coming here.
While being played by Boras on Cole, Arte said he wanted Rendon. Cole went where he wanted to go, Boras found his sucker for Rendon, and the rest is history.
Arte has admitted to personally being involved in the Pujols, Rendon, and Hamilton deals and many have said he demanded the Wells trade.
Boras has always had a good relationship with Arte. He’s had that homeplate dugout suite at Angels Stadium forever.
Yeah Arte put billboards up behind HP. Now Boras can’t be on TV every night
Contract buyout!? Shouldn’t the Angels get something of a refund after that horrendous agreement, haha. Man, that guy sure took that team to the cleaners.
You’re joking right???
He has played in 205 total games over the length of the contract, which covers 810 games.
I obviously know that it doesn’t work that way but if it did, yes I’d be serious. Arguably the worst baseball contract ever.
257 games in between 4 surgeries for injuries sustained on the job.
@ba$eba-A contract is a contract is contract
You don’t say
The poster child for non-fully guaranteed contracts
$245,000,000 for 3.7 WAR (FanGraphs) = $66,216,216 per WAR
This contract makes the $19 million per WAR Pujols deal look like a steal.
Josh Hamilton’s $40 million per WAR mark has been greatly surpassed.
He didn’t get paid $245 million. Remember 2020?
You are correct. He received 37% of the $26 million he was due that year, saving the Angels $16.38 million.
So, call it $229,000,000 for 3.7 WAR and the number is $61,891,891 per WAR.
Also have to take the $38 million for 2026 off that total since he hasn’t been paid anything for next season yet and won’t until April.
Still a horrible contract financially. That doesn’t make it his fault as many on here are trying to make it out to be.
It’s fully guaranteed and his WAR won’t improve in 2026.
Dude spent a ton of time in surgery and rehab. This contract sucked but it wasn’t like Rendon quit.
Topping that, Kris Bryant is probably going to finish his similar-sized contract with the Rockies with negative WAR.
That’s some really tough math.
I was wondering who might be worse. The Bryant contract is absolutely brutal.
If I were the guy writing him the check every week, there would be obscenities drawn all over them
Why? Rendon got hurt playing baseball after being one of the best players in baseball the first year of his contract. That first hip surgery in 2021 should have been the end of his career but he kept trying to come back. Then he got hit on the wrist by a pitch the next season. Then he broke his tibia playing baseball the next season. Then he had a 2nd hip surgery. If I was writing the checks I would realize that the player did everything in his power to be on the field. But then owners are not keyboard warriors whose experience in sports is playing MLB the Show.
The broken shin due to a foul ball was particularly brutal to see.
The contract being an albatross does not equate Rendon being lazy and simply not trying to work. The dude went through a ton of surgeries and rehab to try to make it back.
you get hurt on the job, you have to fight workers’ comp tooth and nail to receive your poverty-level compensation to pay the bills, while hoping the boss doesn’t replace you.
Rendon, gets paid millions, no questions asked.
Want more
To give an idea of how badly this deal aged, Rendon has as many suspensions (2) as home runs since June of 2022. Rendon was suspended in 2022 for getting involved in a brawl with the Seattle Mariners despite already dealing with an injury, and he was suspended in 2023 for an off-field altercation with a fan.
As for your last shot, better a keyboard warrior than an online sucker. who apologizes for this crap.
Yes he is definitely a guy who got paid on past performance. But nobody puts a gun to owners heads. Rendon was a hell of a player until injuries robbed him and I doubt the angels are shedding any tears now that he’s gone. Hopefully he can be pain free in retirement and enjoy his life.
Who writes checks anymore except your Grand mother at the grocery store???lol
My grandmother died in 1993. If someone is writing checks in her name, they are not legit. I doubt the bank even exists that she was using. Probably taken over by Chase or Citi or Wells Fargo of some big conglomeration by now.
I sign a minimum of 73 checks every week to pay my employees, but I don’t write any of them. The computer spits them out. I like to sign them physically and hand them out personally though. My way of making sure I connect with them all.
His tenure was frustrating for sure. The Angel’s definitely didn’t get what they thought they would. Anyone who’s watched the team knows that the team was decimated with injuries, serious injuries during his time so that just added more focus on him and the need to have him on the field and in the line up. The team needed him badly, especially when Ohtani was part of the team. That said, a few of his injuries were very serious, a couple of others were frustrating and almost seemed to be an excuse. He certainly wasn’t Cal Ripken but when surgeries are required you can’t argue with that. Ultimately, whether he was injured or not, he certainly didn’t perform to his lofty salary. Business wise I suppose that’s the risk an organization takes when dishing out money but from a standpoint of being fair, and the Godly man he proclaims himself to be, I would think that Rendon would have some wiggle room there, it only seems like the right thing to do.
Rendon played exceptionally well in 2020. Only one 3B was better.
His hip injury in 2021 that required surgery was not an “excuse”. Normally that injury ends the player’s career.
His wrist injury in 2022 that required surgery was not an “excuse”.
The wrist injury from being hit in the wrist by a 96 mph FB in 2023 was not an “excuse”.
His broken tibia in 2023 that required surgery was not an “excuse”.
He had multiple injuries in 2024 and none were excuses. They were not, oh I tripped on a banana peel. They were injuries that are easy for the medical staff to determine if there was physical damage to his body.
His 2nd hip injury and surgery in 2025 was not an “excuse”
Rendon has struggled through rehab for serious injuries suffered while playing baseball from 2021 through 2025. He deserves to be paid. If he allows a settlement of getting paid what he is owed over time he is doing the Angels a favor.
Skip, injury or not, the salary wasn’t earned. Not when we are talking millions. By the way, you left out the bone bruise on his shin that took him out for months. No, he is not deserving of the contract that he was given. He earned the right to ask and land the contract based on his prior performancewith another team, but he did not fulfill the monetary exchange in my opinion while with the Angels. He was physically incapable of fulfilling it. That said, he has a contract, he has been getting paid, and it is my opinion that the right thing to do here is to negotiate an end to the deal since he can no longer play at an elite level, which he was hired to do over the course of his employment with the Angels.
His salary was earned because he was trying to rehab. If he stopped and just went home that would be a different case.
“Trying to rehab.” You know who tried to rehab? Prince Fielder, David Wright, etc.
This was not like that. Rendon used injuries as a way to avoid playing and didn’t medically retire, he just checked out and *and* it was reported that his issues weren’t actually so immediate of an issue that he absoluely *had* to get surgery when he last got surgery, that he *could* have played through and got the surgery after next year, but he *chose* to do the surgery early, *knowing* he’d be on rehab assignment for all of 2025 and most of 2026.
I remember when this all came up for the last and final time, that the experts and insider reports were that Rendon didn’t *have* to get the surgery *right that moment* and that anybody getting that surgery would be out of commission for one to one and a half seasons, which effectively meant the rest of the contract- but that he *could* have opted to hold off on the surgery until he’d completed the contract, then rehabbed during the first bit of retirement.
But he chose to do the surgery at the exact point in time when he basically would never play again under this contract- *and* if a guy in his position had cared about the game or honoring the contract, he’d have still likely managed to come back in early 2026 and play out the last 80% or so of the final season of the deal.
Rendon knew exactly what he was doing.
That’s pretty stupid tto. No one chooses to have hip surgery. There was nothing else in your diatribe that was close to the truth.
I’m not saying hip surgery was or wasn’t a choice, but I know a lot of sports surgeries are optional within a time frame and guys who are committed to the game tend to try to time the surgeries to miss as little of the season(s) around the surgeries as possible. He did the opposite of that.
I also know from experience it is easier to live with the issue that requires a surgical solution than it is to recover from the surgery- meaning he could have played and scheduled the surgery to miss as little of the seasons left as possible.
One. Hip surgeries end most careers. He put of the second hip surgery on his other hip because that would almost assuredly end his career.
Two) he didn’t put off his first hip surgery.
Three). Hip surgeries almost always require a catheter. No man in his right mind would choose that over playing baseball.
None of the surgeries he had were optional. The 1st hip surgery he had is the end of the career of almost every athlete that has ever had it. It is not something you can put off. You can’t schedule it for the end of the season. You can’t walk, sit, or breath without being in excruciating pain after you have that injury let alone play baseball. Rendon returned from that surgery to play again. Then he had a wrist surgery. Again, not optional. Then a broken leg. Again not optional and not something you can put off. You are the most idiotic troll I have ever seen. Spraining your pinkie while you post on a website is not the same as actually playing a sport.
Trillion, that is the dumbest thing I have ever read. I guess there is a mute button for a reason. No reason to read anymore of your stupidity.
Rendon wanted $250M, he didn’t want to play baseball, but playing baseball was the only way to get that $250M and he made the compromise of signing a 7 year contract to get there and tried to figure out how to play as little baseball as possible to receive the money and now here we are.
They should have never signed him or they should have released him and restructured the deal within a couple regular full seasons of how he was conducting himself- so basically by the end of 2022 or 2023, eaten what was left and stretched out the payments over 20 or 30 years and saved themselves the roster spot and the enormous annual cost.
I suggested this two years ago. Pay him a third of what he’s owed. Defer the rest. Dude ain’t worth the effort or roster spot…
He’s been travelling with the Flying Sandos brothers (see seinfeld episode) ‘Agara Baaaaah’
How I picture the negotiations going –
Moreno: You win, Rendon. We’ve had it. If you agree to rip up your contract, we’ll pay you half of it.
Rendon: But if I don’t agree… I get it all.
I’m not an Angels fan but, IMO, Rendon fleeced the Angels, Moreno and his teammates. To have said the things he said and then always coming up with an injury, I say he owes the club! Retire Rendon. Walk away and count your blessings.
If you can with a clear conscience!
There’s only one word “Sad “
He belongs in the HOF of injured players.
2019, a year that will live in infamy. How many players made bank on that juiced ball year ? WOW ! Major league baseball should have to pay some of the money because of what they did to the baseballs that year. What a stat hoax year that was. Oh well.
Amen, adios, I hope you sleep well at night.
Tony Two Bags? More like Tony Two Bags Full of Cash.
If the Angels DFA Rendon, he’ll retire in the dugout—fitting for a guy who treated baseball like a 9-to-5 while cashing $245 million of Arte Moreno’s money. Six years, 257 games, 3.9 WAR. That’s fewer than 43 games a year for $35 million annually.
Rendon once mashed 34 bombs and drove in 126 runs for the Nats in 2019. Arte saw a World Series hero and handed him the keys to the vault. What he got? A ghost in the lineup, two hip surgeries, and a guy who told the media, “Baseball’s just a job.” That’s not just tone-deaf—it’s a slap in the face to fans who bleed for this game.
Moreno said he’d followed Rendon since Rice. Maybe he should’ve followed his medicals instead. Rendon’s been the highest-paid third baseman in baseball while averaging 51 games a year and hitting zero home runs since July 2023. That’s not a slump—it’s a vanishing act.
If this buyout goes through, it’ll be the final chapter in a saga that set the franchise back years. Rendon didn’t just hurt the payroll—he nuked the Angels’ window with Trout and Ohtani. And now, he’ll walk away with a golden parachute and a legacy as one of the most ungrateful, underperforming signings in MLB history. The nightmare is over.
One player doesn’t nuke a franchise.
I beg to differ with you, but OK let’s throw in Albert Pujols to make you happy
Shhhh! Quiet you
I knew lots of people would comment derisively towards a guy for being honest about his job. I don’t *love* my job, but it pays the bills. How about you?
Most of us don’t love our jobs. But most of us don’t have a long term guaranteed contract where we can totally phone it in and not get fired.
How did he phone it in? He’s been injured.
He’s up all night gaming with Ben Simmons
I just want to say this:
Nothing wrong with faith, nothing wrong with family. I don’t know anybody who cares more about their job than they do their loved ones or their faith/ personal convictions. That is all well and good.
But those are not excuses to take money you have no intention of earning. That’s effectively theft. Pretty sure the Bible is against that.
A lot of players say they held out for/pushed for the largest AAV and most years on a guaranteed deal because of their faith and commitment to community.
Let’s be honest- if that was true, teams would have zero problem agreeing to a player’s demands that the team donate/fund some kind of non profit organization to the tune of tens of millions if not hundreds of millions of dollars and only paying the player a fraction of that personally.
So excuse me when I say that the “my family and ny faith matter more to me than baseball or business” said by players who claim these things while still personally collecting record breaking salaries.
Unless you can demonstrably show me that Rendon donates millions per year to both churches and non profits/charitable efforts and lives a pious, humble personal lifestyle, forgive me if I call BS.
No player in MLB history has had such an effect on their team’s performance as Rendon. I guarantee the Angels would have reached the playoffs a few times by now if not for him. He’s the number one reason they keep struggling, more so than Arte Moreno.
That’s pretty amusing. Moreno could have released him and eaten the money. The Angels couldn’t win with Trout and Ohtani, and if you can’t even make the playoffs with those two, it’s more than just Rendon that’s the problem.
How many seasons did Trout & Ohtani actually complete without one or both being injured?
No player 1 player is the reason a team didn’t make playoffs
ABaddaBingWhatever
The Cost of Two Misses: Pujols + Rendon
Albert Pujols $240M 10 years
Anthony Rendon $245M 7 years
Total: $485 million
What Could That Money Have Bought you say?
With $485 million, the Angels could have signed:
Zack Wheeler (5 yrs, $118M) – Legit ace,
Marcus Semien (7 yrs, $175M) – 30+ HR power, elite defense
Nathan Eovaldi (2 yrs, $34M) – Postseason monster
Blake Snell (4 yrs, $100M est.) – 2023 NL Cy Young
Two elite bullpen arms – Think Josh Hader + Jordan Hicks
And still had money left over for depth.
Try putting that in your pipe and smoke it I bet you’re a peanut vendor
This is the contract is going to be the reason most GM’s will not give Pete Alonso a long term deal. He is looking more like Greg Luzinski by the day. Alonso is one dive away from a serious injury.
Hey man, The Bull makes some mean BBQ
What a joke, everyone who wants players to get paid should hate guys like this. He straight up stole this money.
How. did he steal the money? The article listed 13 injuries since he joined the Angels.
Anthony Rendon “fat cat” That’s the vibe a lot of fans are feeling. Rendon didn’t help himself with public comments like “baseball’s not a top priority” and his desire for a shorter MLB season maybe you should’ve came into spring training in shape Add in a suspension for grabbing a fan in 2023 and the optics are brutal.
Was he mailing it in at spring training? That’s harder to prove. But the pattern of injuries, the lack of production, and the body language on and off the field have fueled the narrative that he never fully bought in. Whether it was bad luck, bad conditioning, or bad attitude—it’s clear the Rendon deal became one of the worst contracts in franchise history.
If the buyout goes through and Rendon retires, it’ll be a merciful end to a disastrous chapter. But for Angels fans who live and breathe this team, it’s hard not to feel like the Angels got hustled.
Did Rendon put a gun to Arte’ and forced him to sign the contract?
Toronto just did what contenders do: they saw a need, stepped up, and got it done. Cease is 30, durable, and still flashing ace-level stuff. This is a rotation-changing move for a team that just went toe-to-toe with the Dodgers in the World Series.
Meanwhile in Anaheim… Arte Moreno watches another elite arm walk by. With Rendon reportedly retiring, this was the moment to reset the narrative. Instead? Crickets. No Cease. No courage. No plan.
Cease got exactly what he wanted—years and dollars. The Jays got exactly what they needed—an innings-eating strikeout machine. And the Angels? They got another reminder that Arte’s era is defined by hesitation
If Rendon’s contract is finally off the books, maybe it’s time Arte followed him out the door.
Maybe Anthony could take half of the 38 and leave some for his former teammates to get a quality starting pitcher.
Angels will probably offer him a bench coach position since that’s where he usually is
He is starting a detective agency with Scott Rolen.
I feel like the fans got robbed. Woulda coulda shoulda… Ohtani, Trout, Rendon coulda, shoulda, woulda been a great middle of the lineup.
He had numerous strain related injuries…..probably from reaching for his TV remote control. I feel bad for the Angels.
Didn’t he “retire” like four year ago?
You beat me to it. But at least we can trade Bohm now.
Another move that makes sense by the Angels?
After watching Moreno in action for 20 years, I’m assuming this change in behavior is driven by pressure from the league to at least pretend to be trying. He’ll do just enough to avoid being forced to sell. And, of course, he loves to build false hope in fans to keep that revenue flowing.
The words THANK FRICKEN ABOUT GOD AND TIME come to mind. Arrange how you must. The real version of Roger Dorn
At least we can feel a gaping hole at 3b
I know that MLBTR is trying to take the high road, but this guy is a cautionary tale. Why pay a baseball player that hates baseball ? He stole that money from the Angels. He is exhibit A who the owners will point when they demand salary caps and contracts that you can terminate like the NFL has.
…and suddenly, things are looking up for the Halos.
He played like he retired 5 years ago
Another Scott Boris, success story!!
He retired 3 years ago.
Biggest bum in MLB history!
Takes 1 to know 1
If it was any other job, he would’ve been fired in 2021 and not kept getting paid.
He’s paying them back right?
Anthony Rendon is definitely one of the baseball players of all time.
For his few credit, getting overpaid ain’t his fault, it’s the Angel’s.
Sad story of Rendon. The guy was an absolute stud before he hit Free Agency and could have been one of the greats. Boras got him paid and unfortunately for everyone involved including Rendon his career just imploded. The Angels got absolutely nothing in return on this mega deal but I’d say the Angels horrible luck the last 14 years hasn’t helped.
I think his non baseball life started in 2021.
can’t wait to see whose the next contestant on the angels version of the press your luck .. no whammy .. no whammy .. no whammy ! ! !
No way would I buy him out. I would make him be with the team and have to travel with them as well. It’s just for this one year, but at least they got something for their money even if it is somewhat just bringing water.
Kneel Mr. Rendon. Now rise. Hence forth you shall be known as Sir Vinny Cashsteal-a II!
Rendon is one of those “stand for the flag, kneel for the cross” guys.
Was I the only one that laughed when the article mentioned Jason Butt?
I know that it offends a few folks that Rendin doesn’t really love playing baseball and sees it as a job only, but it’s not different than a lot of us. I’m in sales, and I hate doing sales, but I’ve doing it long enough and been lucky to be successful enough that I make really good money doing it. Would I rather be something else? Maybe, but like Rendon, it’s supports my family and gives us some freedom financially.
I know some people are going to say “poor guy makes millions playing a kids game”, but it’s not that simple for everyone who does it.
Yeah but you likely show up for your job each day
Fans don’t want to see a player that doesn’t want to be there, period. If a player doesn’t want to play then there’s plenty of other things that they could do to make money and provide for their family. Courage is doing the right things for the right reasons.
If you don’t like playing baseball, then have the courage to retire! Many fans spend hard earned money to watch a game with their family, and the last thing they want to see is a player that faked it and only acknowledges that he doesn’t like baseball after getting the big contract? Why didn’t he make those comments before he signed?
Future Cub. The next Santo
That’s boatload of injuries. Not much of a fan of Rendon because of his attitude. But he’s probably being honest about his lack of dedication. Not a good look at all though. And he obviously alienated many. I wish him the best now and later in life when all those injuries can rear their ugly heads
Anthony Rendon is like that coworker who’ll always call in sick, go on short term sick leave, come back to work for a day, then be off again for the next few months. He just stole that money from Arte lol
Poor Angels. They sign a disproportionate amount of the bad contracts. Some will blame Arte but at some point it is just bad luck. They spend money which as a fan of a franchise is what you want. Add Rendon’s name to the list of money spent poorly by the Angels
The Angels should make Rendon clean toilets for 2026. He can do something useful for the team to earn his paycheck.
They can do a “Faith and Family Night” at the ballpark and he and the President can give speeches between innings.
Well… bye.
Rendon can now focus on making “help! I’ve fallen and can’t get up” commercials.
Wow.
He was one of the best players in the game.
I’m skeptical of players who just so happen to have the greatest season of their life in the final year of their contract. Then, things completely collapse after. Or at the least, they decline sharply and quickly.
We’ve seen it happen over and over. Do they play harder or stay more focused? Do they prepare for those contract seasons differently? Perhaps they’re more likely to play through smaller injuries? Maybe there’s a PED element?
Either way, Rendon hit 34 HRs in 2019 and 22 since. Players will always want to be paid based on their best season and not their average. And they absolutely don’t want to be paid based on future projections. Teams just need to be smarter and have more discipline.
Rendon’s first year+ with the Angels aligns with his final year in DC.
2019 = 157 OPS+
2020 = 150 OPS+
2021 = 120 OPS+ (prior to injury)
HE MUST’VE KNOWN AND FELT HE WASN’T PASSIONATE ABOUT BASEBALL ANYMORE BEFORE SINGING THAT HUGE CONTRACT. HE ALMOST LITERALLY TOOK THE MONEY AND RAN. EXAGGERATING INJURIES TO STAY OFF THE FIELD. WOULDN’T EVEN CONSULT WITH ANGELS MED STAFF MUCH LESS BE A PRESENCE IN THE LOCKER ROOM WHILE ON “INJURY”. THAT’S STEALING WHERE I COME FROM
Somewhere in a file in an agent’s office, there’s a written contract with the Angels leadership’s signatures on it.
The purpose of that contract is precisely to prove that it isn’t theft. That Mr. Rendon got every last cent he’s owed fair and square.
Disgusting thought….
He has no integrity
What’s there to discuss? It’s a CONTRACT. When an organization doesn’t want a player who’s under contract on the team anymore, they release him, and keep paying what he’s owed. That’s how contracts work.
Hopefully the union steps up, and asks for an investigation into what the Angels are up to. Because if they’re blackmailing him with something, that’s a big problem, and every exec involved should be banned
If he retires he doesn’t get any of the 38 million.
It depends on what he negotiates with the team. You can be certain that he is not leaving $38 million on the table. At best the team gets to pay that $38 million over 10 years instead of 1 year. Rendon will still get paid and rightfully so. He was injured while playing.
Josh Hamilton comes to mind another brilliant signing by Arte.
Maybe injury wise, but not in the same galaxy as a teammate. Never heard a bad thing about Josh. Only hear bad things about Rendon.
What bad things did Rendon’s teammates say about him?
He’s a bum, he stole enough money from the Angels
They should be sueing him for breach of contract, he never even tried.
Absolute clown. Have some decency and just forfeit the last year or give it all to charity man
you wouldnt cough up 30MM in your bank account if the shoe was on the other foot. go enjoy your thanksgiving instead of being upset about baseball players
Good riddance. Terrible attitude. Clubhouse cancer…when he’s in it.
No player or manager ever accused of being a problem.
Except no one but reporters and their sheep called him a cancer. No player did.
One player did, Jonathan Papelbon. Not exactly a player anyone would believe.
Will Anaheim have their own Bobby Bonilla Day?
I’m sure hes not a bad guy but theres facts we cant ignore. His comments that baseball or his job isnt the most important thing. Some of his strange comments to journalists. The grabbing shirt of the oakland fan. I wonder if all these injuries are due from a lack of working out properly/getting into shape.
How is fouling a ball off his kneecap and later fouling a ball off his shin (resulting in a fracture) the fault of not being in shape?
“His comments that baseball or his job isnt the most important thing”
Sounds like a well rounded and reasonable human
If he wasn’t a scumbag he would either donate that money to charity or retire and not accept the money somehow
Cant stand people like him
They disgust me
I know, right?
I get so mad when players break their legs or get major hip surgery.
Stop being absurd
OK
Free Mike Trout! Phillies or Yankees would make that $180M in new sponsorships and jersey sales alone, as he chases 500. Angels get long term payroll flexibility, take back Nick Castellanos and Taijuan Walker to fill holes in RF and SP – get young CF like Johan Rojas (Addel bumps to LF if not traded) plus half decent pitching prospect in the deal. Phillies get Trout, take on the entire salary in lieu of giving up a top prospect – plus get Reid Detmers added in the deal to be that swing man the Phils FO covets – remember they paid Joe Ross $4M to fill that role last season? Just saying, RH bats are at a premium, Phillies or Yankees should both try sign Pete Alonso – and trade for Trout and Luis Robert/Kyle Teel. Imagine this lineup:
1. T. Turner SS
2. M. Trout RF
3. B. Harper 1B
4. P. Alonso DH
5. A. Bohm 3B
6. L. Robert LF
7. J. Crawford CF
8. JT Realmuto/K. Teel C
9. B. Stott 2B
What are you trying to free Trout from, the team he chooses to play for? Also if the Angels were going to trade Trout why would they take on 2 expensive low impact players who will be gone in a year or 2.
Trouts not going anywhere until he says he wants to leave the Angels.
Trout is the their only marketable Star! Attendance will drop under 2 million without him!
Now he decides to retire…what an awful contract
Bad contract, sure. Rendon likely will have hampered movement for the rest of his life. He’s not retiring, he’s likely, like Stassi did after only one hip surgery, not two, going to make a deal with the Angels to take less money.
When that happens, he will retire.
Does Boras corp negotiate this? This could take a while
$1 million a year for the next 38 years to go away! Otherwise, force him to show up to work everyday for the rest of the year and suspend him if he doesn’t cooperate!
If a reporter were to ask Rendon:
If you had the choice knowing what you know now, would you still have signed this seven year deal as it currently stands, with your injuries, surgeries and your health injuries possibly affecting the rest of your life, or retired healthy buy with a few hundred millions less?
The only person who hates the game of baseball more than Anthony Rendon is Rob Manfred. Someone should offer him a buyout.
They’ve been talking for a couple of weeks. What’s the hold up? Take the money, Anthony, and retire.
I remember when the Mariners picked Danny Hultzen over Anthony and I was angry. Hard to believe this guy fell so far.
People bust Rizzo’s chops about letting Rendon go and frankly I was one of them.
It turns out Rizzo knew EXACTLY what he was doing.
He also let Harper go, and although he has had a much more significant career than Rendon did, he’s also turning out to be a bit of an issue for the Phillies.
The two I can’t give Rizzo a pass for are trading Turner and Soto. I know about 1/3 of the current, active roster is made of up players from those 2 trades, it fried my ass when he traded away those two exceptional players.
Anyway, it looks like Rizzo gets the last laugh after letting Rendon go.