Salary burden ends Rendon's Angels tenure as both sides agree to restructure contract

As reported today by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the Los Angeles Angels and third baseman Anthony Rendon have reached an agreement to restructure the last year of his contract, which means he will not appear in the 2026 season.

Rendon signed a big seven-year, $245 million deal before the 2020 season, originally scheduled to earn $38 million in 2026; now that amount will be spread out over multiple years. The specific terms have not been disclosed, and the Angels have yet to officially announce the contract restructuring.

Angels GM Perry Minasian stated during the winter meetings that the team was exploring the possibility of gaining short-term financial flexibility by deferring payment of Rendon’s final contract year. However, this plan still required negotiations with Rendon’s agent Scott Boras, the MLB office, and the players’ union.

All parties have now reached an agreement, and Rendon will miss a second consecutive season—he underwent hip surgery before the 2025 season. He has not officially retired and will remain on the team’s active roster but can be placed on the 60-day injured list before the season starts, freeing up a spot on the 40-man roster.

This marks the official end of Rendon’s disappointing career with the Angels. Over the past five seasons, he struggled with injuries and his performance declined significantly compared to his time with the Washington Nationals. In five seasons with the Angels, he played only 257 games, posting a slash line of .242/.348/.369, hitting 22 home runs and driving in 125 runs. In 2024—his final season—he batted .218/.307/.267 over 57 games, with no home runs and just 14 RBIs.

Now 35 years old, Rendon’s career (with the Nationals and Angels combined) includes 1,173 games played, a slash line of .280/.364/.464, 158 home runs, 295 doubles, and 671 RBIs. He won the Silver Slugger Award twice, in 2014 and 2019, was an All-Star in 2019, and finished third in the National League MVP voting that year. He also helped the Nationals win the World Series in 2019, earning a championship ring alongside current Angels bench coach Kurt Suzuki.

With Rendon stepping away from the roster, the Angels will look to strengthen their third base position during the offseason. They are also still searching for starting pitchers, relievers, and a center fielder in the market.

Today, the Angels used some of their newly available payroll space to sign former Dodgers reliever Kirby Yates to a one-year, $5 million contract. This marks another low-risk signing for the Angels this offseason, following previous acquisitions of right-handers Alek Manoah and Grayson Rodriguez, relievers Drew Pomeranz and Jordan Romano, as well as utility player Vaughn Grissom.