Anthony Rendon isn’t afraid to speak his mind.
The Angels third baseman has struggled to find his footing during his time under the California sun. Still, he didn’t let those foibles prevent him from expressing scorn at the concept of playing big-league baseball.
Speaking with reporters on Monday morning, Rendon discussed his view of playing in the big league spotlight. It proved a polarizing discussion for one of a few reasons, mainly that it seemed as if Rendon wasn’t all that interested in lacing up his spikes for much longer.
Here’s what you need to know about Rendon’s latest comments to the media.
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What did Anthony Rendon say?
Rendon offered fans a candid glimpse at his mindset heading into the 2024 season on Monday. He claimed that baseball had “never” been his primary concern, even when he was at his swash-buckling best.
“It’s never been a top priority for me,” Rendon said, per The Athletic’s Sam Blum. “This is a job. I do this to make a living. My faith, my family come first before this job. So if those things come before it, I’m leaving.”
Rendon never said that the sport isn’t a priority of his. Rather, he explained that it’s not his first priority. He saves such designation for his family and his faith.
“Oh it’s a priority for sure,” Rendon said. “Because it’s my job. I’m here, aren’t I?”
Since inking a seven-year, $ 245 million contract with Los Angeles ahead of the 2020 season, Rendon has appeared in just 200 games. His numbers during that time aren’t terrible — he’s posting .249/.359/.399 batting splits since joining the Angels. But it’s a far-cry from his years with the Nationals, where he placed top-11 in NL MVP voting on four different occasions.
With just 22 home runs and 111 RBIs since moving to Hollywood, Rendon’s Angels’ tenure has been an unmitigated disaster, placing him in infamous company alongside Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson and Josh Hamilton as big-money signings to flop when they became Halos.
Anthony Rendon contract
Rendon agreed to a seven-year, $ 245 million deal with the Angels before the 2020 season. With his deal, Rendon became one of the highest-paid players in history. Four years later, his $ 35 million average annual value (AAV) ranks tied for eighth-highest in MLB.
