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Third baseman Anthony Rendon was expected to be a cornerstone for the Los Angeles Angels when he signed a seven-year, $245 million contract in December 2019. Instead, he has been an albatross.
Rendon was healthy during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He appeared in 52 games and finished tenth in the AL MVP voting. In 232 plate appearances, he hit nine homers and 11 doubles, producing a batting line of .286/.418/.497.
That was also the last time Rendon spent most of the season on the diamond. Since the start of the 2021 season, he has appeared in just 205 games, producing a disappointing .231/.329/.336 slash line in 863 plate appearances, hitting 13 homers and 39 doubles. He has missed nearly 70% of the Angels’ games over the past four years as a litany of injuries has kept Rendon on the sidelines.
2025 is shaping up to be more of the same. Sam Blum of The Athletic reported that Rendon will undergo hip surgery after a setback in his rehab and is expected to be out for a “long amount of time.”
Blum noted that it is uncertain whether Rendon played his last game for the Angels. At the end of last season, he reported that Rendon was not guaranteed a roster spot moving forward. The Angels signed former All-Star Tim Anderson — a move that could have hastened Rendon’s departure if Anderson showed he had anything left in the tank.
It is fair to wonder how hard Rendon has pushed to return to the lineup. In 2024, he sparked controversy by saying he simply considers baseball his job and that it was “never a top priority.” He will continue to receive his salary no matter what as he takes up a roster spot until his inevitable move to the 60-day injured list.
At this point, Rendon has proven that the Angels cannot count on him moving forward. Their offseason moves are those of a team looking to contend for a playoff berth. Keeping Rendon on the roster, even with a spot on the IL, does not help with that goal. As he has been unable to stay on the diamond and is already facing a lengthy stint on the IL again this season, it is time for the Angels to walk away.
