NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The day Ron Washington was introduced as the Los Angeles Angels’ manager, he promised that one of his first calls would be to Anthony Rendon.
It was an important call. The Angels and Rendon are, for better or worse, stuck at the hip. And getting the most out of a beleaguered one-time star is of paramount importance.
“We talked about his health, making certain that he can get himself to the point where he can become Rendon again,” Washington said on Monday of his chat with Rendon. “If we can get him to the point where he can become Rendon again, that’s a winner. He’s been a winner.”
Rendon is now 33 years old. His body hasn’t held up in the last three years. Hip, wrist and shin injuries in respective years have limited him to just 148 total games since 2021.
Beyond his health, the team has had concerns about his attitude. He often hasn’t communicated information about his injuries to the media. And he believed his shin bruise last year was a fracture, while the team’s doctors all said otherwise.
The situation has bordered on toxic. But, with Rendon having a healthy offseason and a contract that runs another three years at $38 million per season, both parties have no choice but to run it back.
“I mean, yeah,” Angels GM Perry Minasian said when asked if Rendon will be the everyday third baseman. “I know the last three years have been really tough for him. And I get it. He’s had a lot of injuries. He knows that. We are a significantly better club with him on the field.
“Yes. I expect him to be our third baseman. I expect him to play every day.”
Anthony Rendon will start next season as the Angels’ starting third baseman. (Tim Heitman / Getty Images)
The Angels do have a much better record with Rendon on the field. But his overall numbers after 2020 aren’t indicative of a highly productive player. In 43 games last season, Rendon hit just two homers and posted an 88 OPS+, indicating he was below average offensively. He also struggled defensively, collecting minus-4 defensive runs saved.
Given his durability, declining production and communication issues, it’s fair to wonder just how much the Angels will rely on Rendon.
This team, however, doesn’t have many options at the position. They could move Luis Rengifo over to third, though it’s not his natural spot on the infield. Brandon Drury could also play third, but he’s got very little experience there.
Last season, the Angels signed Gio Urshela as an insurance policy on Rendon. But he too suffered a season-ending injury. The Angels haven’t added anyone to a similar role for 2024.
“As of now he is our everyday third baseman. … He’s having a great winter as far as his health goes, and now we just have to get him in spring training and make certain that we keep him on the program that will keep him able to be on the field,” Washington said. “I don’t have a magic ball, so I can’t tell you if that will happen, but our mindset is for that to happen.”
It was a year ago that Minasian said he believed Rendon would win Comeback Player of the Year in 2023. That did not play out as hoped, or anywhere close to it. By the second game of the season, Minasian had to cut short a trip to Triple-A Salt Lake to address Rendon grabbing a fan in Oakland.
At this point, offseason optimism surrounding the one-time world champion has lost some credibility.
The team is doing some things to try and get Rendon going. Most importantly, they hired Bo Porter as first base coach. Porter and Rendon have a close relationship. And there’s some hope that he will help to improve the situation.
Minasian also spoke at the GM meetings in November and called out some of the team’s focus and drive. He didn’t mention Rendon by name, but it was easy to read between the lines.
“Southern California is an outstanding place to live. The beach is there, you can go surfing,” Minasian said. “There has to be some self-motivation when you show up to the park. We have a lot of motivated players. We’d like to add to that, bring some edge to the group. We want players that love to play, that want to be out there and play every day, that are dying to be out there.”
The last time Rendon talked to reporters, he said he’d been contemplating retirement for the past decade. Nothing about what he shares with the public would indicate he’s “dying to be out there.”
The dynamics of Rendon’s situation are unenviable, beyond the discomfort of a failing mammoth contract. The Angels have dealt with that. This is a different animal.
The Angels are in the position of needing to rely on Rendon, to the point where they’re still guaranteeing him an everyday spot. And, once again, they’re left hoping for the best.
(Top photo of Anthony Rendon: Rob Leiter / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
