Angels Restructure Anthony Rendon’s Contract
The Los Angeles Angels and third baseman Anthony Rendon have reached an agreement to restructure the final year of his contract. This modification implies that the player will not participate in the 2026 season.
Rendon, who signed a seven-year, $245 million contract before the 2020 season, was owed a salary of $38 million for 2026. This amount will now be deferred and paid over several years, although the exact terms of the agreement have not been officially disclosed.
During the Winter Meetings, general manager Perry Minasian indicated that the team was looking for options to gain more short-term financial flexibility by restructuring Rendon’s contract. This process required negotiations with his agent, Scott Boras, as well as the approval of Major League Baseball and the players’ union (MLBPA).
The agreement marks the second consecutive season without playing for Rendón, who underwent hip surgery before the 2025 campaign. Although he has not retired and will remain on the roster, the team can place him on the 60-day injured list, thus freeing up a spot on the 40-player roster before the start of the championship.
Rendon’s time with the Angels was characterized by injuries and underperformance. In five seasons with the franchise, he participated in just 257 games, with a .242 average, 22 home runs, and 125 RBIs. In his last performance, in 2024, he batted .218/.307/.267, with no home runs and 14 RBIs in 57 games.
Throughout his career in the Major Leagues, between the Washington Nationals and the Angels, Rendón has an offensive line of .280/.364/.464, with 158 home runs, 295 doubles, and 671 RBIs in 1,173 games. He was called to the All-Star Game in 2019, won two Silver Bats, and was a key player in the Nationals’ World Series championship that same year.
With Rendón out of the picture, the Angels are looking for a third baseman for next season, in addition to reinforcing their starting rotation, bullpen, and center field. Part of the financial flexibility obtained was used to sign reliever Kirby Yates for one year and 5 million dollars, adding to other acquisitions made during the offseason.
