End of an era
Angels' "Rendon Era" Ends as LA Restructures Deal
The Los Angeles Angels and third baseman Anthony Rendon have agreed to restructure the final year of his contract, ending one of the most disappointing tenures in franchise history. Rendon will not play during the 2026 season, while the $38 million he is owed for the final year of his seven-year deal will be paid out over several years.
The Los Angeles Angels and third baseman Anthony Rendon have agreed to restructure the final year of his contract, effectively ending one of the most disappointing free-agent tenures in franchise history. Under the revised agreement, Rendon will not play during the 2026 season, while the $38 million he is owed for the final year of his seven-year deal will be paid out over several years, according to multiple reports.
The Angels have not publicly disclosed the financial terms, but the move provides the club with immediate payroll and roster flexibility while formally closing the door on Rendon’s on-field role with the team. Rendon, 35, is not retiring and will technically remain under contract, allowing the Angels to place him on the 60-day injured list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
Rendon missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing hip surgery, marking his second consecutive year without appearing in a game. Injuries defined nearly his entire stint in Anaheim. Since signing a seven-year, $245 million contract ahead of the shortened 2020 season, Rendon appeared in just 257 games across five seasons, averaging fewer than 45 games per year.
Once envisioned as a cornerstone bat alongside Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, Rendon instead became a symbol of the Angels’ inability to translate spending into success. His production steadily declined, and he never played more than 60 games in a season with the club. Over his Angels tenure, he hit .242 with 22 home runs and an OPS of .717.
The contrast with his peak years in Washington was stark. Rendon was a central figure in the Nationals’ 2019 World Series title, finishing third in NL MVP voting that year while batting .319 with 34 home runs and 126 RBIs. That performance earned him the mega-deal that ultimately backfired for Los Angeles.
Rendon also drew criticism for public comments downplaying baseball’s importance in his life, statements that frustrated fans as injuries continued to mount. While the club never questioned his work ethic privately, the disconnect between salary, availability, and impact became impossible to ignore.
With Rendon now sidelined indefinitely, the Angels are actively searching for a third baseman and continue to pursue pitching and outfield help this offseason. The restructured deal closes the book on the “Rendon era,” leaving behind a costly lesson rather than a legacy.