Anthony Rendon has agreed to restructure the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Angels, according to a source familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press anonymously. The Angels have not officially announced any updates about Rendon, who missed last season due to hip surgery.
The revised contract adjusts the remaining $38 million owed to Rendon in 2026, likely spreading the payments over a longer period. Rendon remains on the roster and continues rehabbing at his home in Houston, but his troubled time with the Angels may be ending.
Rendon’s lucrative seven-year, $245 million free-agent deal has not yielded the desired results for the Angels. The former Washington Nationals star has been plagued by injuries for much of his tenure, playing only 257 games and posting a .242 batting average with 22 home runs, 125 RBIs, and a .717 OPS. If he doesn’t play in 2026, Rendon will have participated in roughly just a quarter of the Angels’ games during his contract.
Before joining the Angels, Rendon was a top player in the league, leading in RBIs, earning All-Star honors, and winning a World Series in 2019 with Washington. While he performed adequately during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he has struggled to replicate that level of play since then. The Angels have not reached the playoffs or had a winning record in his four years with the team.
Over the past five years, Rendon has dealt with injuries affecting many areas, including his crotch, left knee, left hamstring, left shin, obliques, waist, both wrists, and hips. Off the field, he also alienated some fans by publicly stating his disinterest in baseball as more of a business than a passion, criticizing the length and excitement of games.
Last season, Luis Rengifo and Yoan Moncada primarily played third base for the Angels, and both are currently free agents. Rendon’s contract ranks among several high-profile signings by Angels owner Arte Moreno that have not panned out as hoped, alongside players like Gary Matthews Jr., Josh Hamilton, and Zach Cozart, as well as unsuccessful trades for Vernon Wells and Justin Upton.
Fan Take: This contract restructuring highlights the risks teams take when betting big on star players, showing how injuries can derail even the most promising careers. For baseball fans, it serves as a reminder of the uncertainty in the sport and the importance of managing long-term investments wisely.
