When Anthony Rendon signed his $245m contract with the Los Angeles Angels in December 2019, the franchise believed it was bringing in one of baseball’s premier talents, an elite third baseman fresh off a championship run with the Washington Nationals. Just months earlier, Rendon had put up career numbers: 34 home runs, 126 RBIs, and a blistering 1.010 OPS, all while helping Washington to its first World Series title. The Angels, desperate to pair another star alongside Mike Trout, made Rendon the highest-paid third baseman in baseball.
A $245m Contract That Never Delivered
But almost from the outset, the deal unraveled, and by the time Rendon quietly disappeared into what appears to be retirement, it was clear: the $245m contract had become an albatross of historic proportions.
Rendon will reportedly be released from his deal and is expected to retire, according to ESPN. Despite being owed $38 million in 2026, the team is preparing to part ways. A buyout, possibly involving deferred payments, is expected, but not yet confirmed.
The numbers are staggering. Over seven years, Rendon suited up for the Angels in only a fraction of games, just 200+ out of a possible 800-plus. After a respectable 2020 during the pandemic-shortened season, the next four years were marked by a relentless parade of injuries. Groin, hamstring, hip, wrist, back, his body became a ticking list of setbacks. He missed the entire 2025 season following hip surgery, spending his recovery largely out of the public eye at home in Houston.
From All-Star to Afterthought
His last home run was back in July 1, 2023. He never played more than 58 games in a single season as an Angel. Between 2021 and 2024, he appeared in just 205 out of 648 games, slashing a disappointing .231/.329/.336 over that span.
Even more damaging than his injury record, however, was his attitude. Rendon made headlines for admitting his interest in baseball was limited. He dismissed accolades, shunned attention, and ultimately confessed he viewed the game as “just a job.” For a player earning nearly $35 million a year, the comments stung fans and fueled a growing resentment.
A Painful Legacy for the Angels
As news of his release spread, fans’ reaction was swift and cutting. Social media lit up with condemnation and mockery. “Worst contract in the history of the MLB,” one user wrote. Another called it “an all-time heist.” The sentiment was consistent: the Angels had invested hundreds of millions into a player who never truly seemed invested himself.
In the end, Rendon’s time in Los Angeles may be remembered not for what he accomplished, but for what he failed to become. A cautionary tale. A high-priced gamble that never paid off. And a once-great talent who, when given everything, gave back far too little.
