The Anthony Rendon Era With The Angels Is Officially Over
Anthony Rendon signed a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels on December 11, 2019, ahead of the 2020 MLB season, making him one of the highest-paid third basemen in Major League Baseball after his World Series run with the Washington Nationals. As of today, Rendon and the Angels have officially parted ways, marking the end of one of the worst contracts in the history of the sport.
Rendon Is Done In Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels have reached a contract buyout agreement with Anthony Rendon, officially closing the chapter on his time with the team. This move instantly frees up payroll for Los Angeles, as the last year of Rendon’s $38 million contract will now be paid out over the next three to five years instead of all at once. Throughout his tenure, Rendon struggled to remain healthy, dealing with a series of injuries that limited him to just 257 games out of a possible 1,032.
In an interview in early February of last year, he made a comment highlighting his disinterest and loss of passion for the game of baseball:
“This has never been a top priority,” Rendon said. “This is a job. I do this to make a living. My faith and my family come first before this job. So if those things come before it, I’ll move on.”
Rendon has seemed disconnected from the game for quite some time, and many believe he mentally checked out on the Angels well before the buyout became official. Years of persistent injuries took a toll on him both physically and mentally, leaving him exhausted and eager to move on rather than trying to recapture his former level of play.
The Angels have a history of paying hefty sums to escape unfavorable contracts, and Rendon now joins that list. In total, the organization will have paid him $245 million, which comes to roughly $953,307 per game with the Angels. They almost paid almost a million dollars for every game he played.
What’s Next For Rendon?
His baseball career appears to be over, and the ending is far from ideal. Hip surgery sidelined him for the entire season, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll be healthy enough to return next year. Even if Rendon could play, his motivation has faded, and it sounds like he’s been considering stepping away from the game for some time.
The Angels now face a dramatically different offseason. With nearly $40 million freed up, they can pursue a premier free agent on the market. As many players remain unsigned heading into the new year, the Angels could take advantage by making a bold offer that other teams might hesitate to match.
