THE END OF AN ERA: Anthony Rendon’s $245 Million Journey Concludes with Expected Retirement.vc

ANAHEIM, CA – The saga of Anthony Rendon and the Los Angeles Angels is finally nearing its stunning and bittersweet conclusion. After years defined by debilitating injuries, controversial off-field comments, broken expectations, and nearly zero on-field production, the former Washington Nationals hero is reportedly in discussions with the Angels to buy out the final year of his $245 million contract with the expectation that he will retire from baseball.

This move marks the end of a dramatic six-year journey that has transformed a legacy of Championship Greatness into one of the most disastrous free-agency signings ever seen in Major League History.

The $245 Million Disaster

Rendon was viewed as a sure thing when he signed his seven-year, $245 million deal with the Angels in December 2019, fresh off a career-best 2019 season where he led the Nationals to the World Series, finished third in NL MVP voting, and was unquestionably one of the game’s best third basemen.

The Angels’ return on that massive investment has been almost non-existent:

• Games Played: Rendon has appeared in only 257 games since signing the contract (including the shortened 2020 season). He missed the entire 2025 season recovering from hip surgery and never played more than 58 games in any of the four preceding full seasons.
• Production: The player who averaged a .912 OPS from 2016-2019 slashed a dismal .231/.329/.336 from 2021 to 2025.
• Cost Per Win: His total Wins Above Replacement (WAR) during his Angels tenure stands at a mere 3.9, a brutal statistic that has made his deal a punchline and a financial anchor that crippled the franchise’s ability to build around Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani.

Controversies and Broken Expectations

Beyond the injuries, Rendon’s tenure was plagued by a perceived lack of commitment that further soured the relationship with fans and media:

• Public Disinterest: Rendon drew intense criticism for comments that baseball was “never a top priority” and “just a job,” sentiments that were amplified by his frequent absences.
• Off-Field Incidents: His time with the Angels was marked by suspensions, including one for an altercation with a fan in 2023.

The expected buyout of his remaining $38 million for 2026 allows the Angels to finally move on and gain significant, immediate financial flexibility for the upcoming offseason. For Rendon, it means turning his back on baseball and prioritizing his life away from the sport, something he had signaled a desire to do for years.

The former hero’s career ends with a stark lesson on the volatility of long-term mega-contracts, permanently linking his Hall-of-Fame-level 2019 campaign with one of the greatest busts in MLB free-agent history.