Angels in Talks to Buy Out Anthony Rendon’s Final Year

The Los Angeles Angels look just about ready to move on from the Anthony Rendon era. The club is reportedly talking about a buyout for the final year of his contract.

The former All-Star third baseman missed all of 2025 after hip surgery. He’s expected to retire, which would close the book on one of the most disappointing big-money signings in recent memory and shake up the Angels’ infield plans.

Angels, Anthony Rendon Discuss Buyout of Final Contract Year

These talks focus on the 2026 season, the last year of Rendon’s seven-year, $245 million deal. That final season comes with a jaw-dropping $38 million price tag.

Rendon is now 35 and coming off major hip surgery. Both sides seem eager to find a clean way out.

For the Angels, a buyout won’t undo past spending. Still, it could give them some roster and financial breathing room as they try to reset after years of falling short.

For Rendon, it’s a way to officially wrap up a career that hit its peak in Washington but just never really got going in Anaheim.

Inside the Final Year Buyout Talks

No one’s shared the specific financial terms yet. It’s likely the Angels would pay less overall for 2026, maybe by spreading out payments or tweaking the payout schedule.

The luxury-tax hit might still sting, but freeing up space could change how the team builds its roster.

Honestly, a buyout pretty much confirms what most folks around the league have guessed: Rendon is expected to retire instead of chasing another comeback after sitting out all of 2025.

A Contract That Never Met Its Lofty Expectations

Back in December 2019, the Angels signed Rendon to a seven-year, $245 million contract. He arrived as one of baseball’s top third basemen, fresh off a championship with the Nationals and ready to team up with Mike Trout.

Instead, the deal quickly turned into a warning sign about long-term contracts for players over 30—especially when the injury bug bites hard.

Limited Availability, Limited Impact

Rendon played in only about a quarter of the Angels’ games during his contract. That limited time on the field led to just 3.7 fWAR in Anaheim.

To put it bluntly, that’s the kind of value a healthy star might deliver in one good season, not over four years of injuries and setbacks.

His numbers dropped off a cliff. Rendon’s slash line with the Angels was a weak .231/.329/.336, nowhere near the hitter he was in Washington.

• Batting average plummeted from his Nationals days.
• On-base skills dipped, though they didn’t totally disappear.
• Power faded as the injuries piled up.

From Nationals Superstar to Angels Struggle

To really grasp how rough this stretch has been, you have to remember what Rendon was before Anaheim. With the Washington Nationals, he stood out as one of the most complete players in the league.

He mixed patience at the plate, gap power, and solid defense at third. In 2019, he finished third in NL MVP voting and played a huge part in the Nationals’ first World Series title.

An Injury List That Tells the Story

After joining the Angels, Rendon’s story flipped from reliable to constantly sidelined. Over four seasons, he dealt with injuries to just about every part of his body:

• Groin
• Knee
• Hamstring
• Shin
• Oblique
• Back
• Wrists
• Hips

Every time he got close to returning, something else cropped up. The hip injury that wiped out his 2025 season seems to have ended things, pushing him toward retirement and the Angels toward a buyout.

Angels’ Broader Struggles: Beyond Just Rendon

Rendon’s rough run isn’t some isolated case. It sums up a franchise that, despite having stars, just can’t seem to turn talent into October baseball.

The Angels haven’t reached the playoffs since 2014. They’ve racked up a decade of losing seasons.

A lot of the frustration comes from stars being stuck on the bench. Rendon missed huge stretches, and Mike Trout—another generational talent—has battled injuries too.

Throw in Shohei Ohtani leaving after his historic two-way run, and the Angels’ supposed window never really opened at all.

Kurt Suzuki Era Signals a Fresh Start at Third Base

Now with Kurt Suzuki at the helm, the Angels look ready to move on from Rendon at third and reshape who they are. Suzuki, once a catcher known for his smarts and leadership, has a big job ahead guiding a roster that needs more health, depth, and a new plan at third base.

Opening up third base—both in the budget and on the field—gives the team a chance to try younger players, make trades, or chase free agents who actually fit where the franchise is now. Let’s see if they can finally get it right.

What the Rendon Era Means for the Angels Going Forward

If the buyout wraps up and Rendon retires, that’s it—the end of one of the more painful chapters in Angels history. The investment just didn’t pay off, and now the club has to face some tough lessons about risk, age, and durability when handing out those massive long-term contracts.

But there’s also a door opening here. With the Rendon situation almost behind them, the Angels can start focusing on a new direction under Kurt Suzuki.

They’ve got a real shot to rebuild the infield’s foundation and maybe, finally, put together a roster that’s balanced instead of depending on just a couple of big names.

 
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