Angels' Anthony Rendon contract might be worst in MLB history as retirement looms originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have done many things wrong in recent years.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut on paper, there was nothing to suggest that Anthony Rendon signing a big free agent contract before the 2020 season would be one of them.
Rendon was coming off a 7.3 Wins Above Replacement season with the Washington Nationals in 2019, his best ever. He had hit a career-high 44 doubles, 34 homers and driven in 126 runs.
And since, Rendon's contract with the Angels has gone down as one of the worst in MLB history.
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He signed for seven years and $245 million.
On Wednesday, ESPN's Alden Gonzalez reported that the Angels and Rendon may buy out the final year of his contract. He's owed $38 million in 2026.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGonzalez added that Rendon is expected to retire.
He actually was good in his first season with the Angels, the COVID-shortened 2020. In 52 games, Rendon hit .286 with a .915 OPS.
His OPS declined four years in a row after that, though, and injury troubles reduced Rendon's impact at third base, where he used to be a great fielder.
Rendon didn't play at all in 2025 as he recovered from hip surgery.
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In total, he accumulated 3.9 WAR with the Angels, with 2.2 of that coming in 2020. That works out to about $62.8 million per win.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Angels likely weren't expecting much of a contribution from Rendon in 2026, so from that perspective, a buyout is probably no problem.
And it's a sad ending for Rendon, who was once such a gifted ballplayer.
But it was the kind of conclusion that was coming for a while. Rendon simply wasn't the player he once was.
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