This article takes a look at Anthony Rendon’s wild ride with the Los Angeles Angels. He went from superstar status with the Washington Nationals to landing a contract that’s now a cautionary tale for MLB front offices.
Let’s break down how a seven-year, $245 million deal crumbled into one of baseball’s most regrettable investments. We’ll get into how injuries totally reshaped his legacy, and what a possible buyout and likely retirement could mean for Rendon and the Angels.
Anthony Rendon’s Deal with the Angels: A Blockbuster That Backfired
The Angels signed Anthony Rendon to a seven-year, $245 million contract before the 2020 season. They thought they were getting an elite, franchise-changing third baseman to team up with Mike Trout.
On paper, it looked like a move that screamed, “We’re going for it.” The timing felt right. Rendon was coming to Anaheim after a career year and a World Series win, bringing star power and a solid offensive game that seemed built to last.
But things fell apart fast. Injuries and fading performance quickly took over, and the partnership soured.
From Nationals Star to Big-Money Free Agent
Rendon’s last season in Washington turned him into one of baseball’s hottest free agents. In 2019, he put together an all-around performance that made teams open their wallets.
He posted a career-high 7.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), putting him among the game’s best. Offensively, he was on fire:
He mixed power, patience, and clutch hitting, all while playing third base. That 2019 season? That’s what front offices dream of when they chase superstars.
A Strong 2020 Start That Masked Coming Trouble
Rendon’s first year with the Angels, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, actually looked promising. Over 60 games, he mostly delivered at the plate.
Solid Production in a Shortened Season
In 2020, Rendon hit .286 with a .915 OPS in 52 games. He brought both power and on-base skills, notching 2.2 WAR—which, weirdly, ended up being more than half of his total for the Angels.
At that point, the deal seemed fine. The Angels had a star at third, a veteran in his prime, and a small sample that matched the hype. But nobody saw how fast injuries would wreck everything.
Injuries, Decline, and Diminishing Returns
After 2020, Rendon’s time with the Angels became more about what he couldn’t do than what he could. Every year, he played less and produced less.
Defense Erodes, Offense Fades
Injuries hammered Rendon’s ability to play third, a position that needs quick feet and a strong core. As his body gave out, his defensive value tanked, and the Angels had to juggle his workload and where to put him.
His offense faded, too. The steady extra-base power and gap shots from his Nationals days were gone. Over his whole Angels run, Rendon managed just 3.9 WAR, with most of that coming in 2020.
It hit rock bottom in 2025, when he didn’t play at all after hip surgery. For a contract built on superstar expectations, the Angels weren’t getting much of anything back.
By the Numbers: One of MLB’s Worst Contracts
Stack up the cost and the results, and Rendon’s deal is right there with the most regrettable contracts in MLB history. The numbers are rough.
The Cost of a Win
Across his Angels contract so far, Rendon’s 3.9 WAR has cost an eye-popping amount. If you do the math, that’s about $62.8 million per WAR.
Most teams aim to pay something like $8–10 million per WAR in free agency, give or take. Rendon’s number is many times higher, showing just how much a bad megadeal can mess up a team’s payroll and plans to compete.
Buyout Talks, Retirement, and Rendon’s Complicated Legacy
Rendon is still owed $38 million in 2026, and the Angels are staring down one more pricey year for a player who hasn’t contributed much lately. Reports say both sides might be working toward a buyout for that last season.
Why a Buyout Makes Sense for Both Sides
For the Angels, a buyout gives them a way to regain some control over a bad situation. They won’t dodge the financial sting, but at least they can plan for the future knowing Rendon isn’t a central piece anymore.
Given his injuries and fading contributions, the team probably sees a negotiated exit as something they can live with. It’s not ideal, but what else can they do?
For Rendon, the likely outcome is retirement. His career once looked so promising—remember that World Series run? MVP-caliber numbers, too.
But in Anaheim, his last chapter will be remembered more for what could have been. It’s tough, honestly. Even the most careful long-term contracts can blow up after just one major injury—or a few.
Here is the source article for this story: Angels’ Anthony Rendon contract might be worst in MLB history as retirement looms
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