Anthony Rendon (35) of the Los Angeles Angels, considered one of the biggest busts in Major League Baseball, decided to retire without playing a single game in the 2026 season, the final year of his free agent contract. The Angels agreed to partitioning Rendon's 2026 salary of $38 million (about 55 billion won).
U.S. media outlet ESPN reported on the 31st (Korean time) that "the Los Angeles Angels and Anthony Rendon have agreed to a buyout of the remaining contract."
Rendon, who has a "comprehensive injury set," is unlikely to play normally in the 2026 season, and the Angels held buyout negotiations to clear a spot on the 40-man roster as they moved on from Rendon. If the Angels place Rendon on the 60-day injured list before the season opens and do not activate him through the end of the season, they can add another player to the roster.
Rendon won the World Series in 2019 with the Washington Nationals after hitting .319 with 34 home runs, 126 RBIs and a 1.010 OPS, and then landed a blockbuster seven-year, $245 million free agent contract with the Angels. According to U.S. outlet The Athletic, Rendon's $38 million salary in the final contract year of 2026 was agreed to be paid over three to five years in partitioning.
Rendon is considered one of the biggest busts in Major League history. During his seven-year, $245 million contract, the only season he played properly was the shortened 2020 season (60 games), the contract's first year. Rendon hit .286 with nine home runs, 31 RBIs and a .915 OPS in 52 games. His WAR (wins above replacement) was 2.2.
However, from 2021 he suffered various injuries and spent more time rehabbing than playing. He missed the entire 2025 season after hip surgery. Over the past four years he was placed on the injured list 13 times for groin, knee, hamstring, shin, oblique, back, wrist and hip issues.
If he retires after the 2026 season having played 0 games, he will have appeared in just 257 of the Angels' 1,032 games during the seven-year contract. That is a 25% appearance rate. In six seasons with the Angels he posted a .242 batting average with 224 hits, 22 home runs, 125 RBIs, 112 runs and a .717 OPS.
ESPN reported, "Rendon appeared in only a quarter of the games the Angels played over seven years. His total WAR was a mere 3.7." Baseball-Reference's bWAR totals 3.9 over seven years. In Major League Baseball, one WAR is roughly valued at $8 million.
Rendon was paid $245 million over seven years but delivered only about $32 million worth of value. That's roughly one-seventh. He essentially pocketed more than $200 million.
In addition to failing to manage his body due to frequent injuries, he sparked fan outrage with controversial remarks. At 2024 spring training he said, "Baseball is not my top priority in life. It's just a job. I play baseball to make money. Family comes first," drawing criticism from fans. He also said while receiving a huge salary, "The 162-game regular season is too long. The season should be shortened."
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