Anthony Rendon’s disastrous tenure with the Angels is finally over. Reports have emerged that Rendon and the Angels are in talks to buy out the final year of his seven-year, $245 million contract. He was such a great player with the Nats, but it didn’t work out in LA due to injuries and Rendon’s irritable attitude.
Unfortunately, this disastrous chapter in LA will make most people forget how great Rendon was. However, Nationals fans will always remember Rendon fondly, even if the rest of the baseball world talks about his terrible Angels contract.
After being drafted sixth overall in the loaded 2011 draft class, Rendon quickly worked his way through the Minor Leagues. He made his debut in April 2013 and immediately showed promise. After a solid rookie season, Rendon had a real breakthrough in 2014.
At just 24 years old, Rendon posted a 6.5 WAR season and finished 5th in NL MVP voting. Nats fans fell in love with his power and cold attitude. He became affectionately known as Tony Two Bags because of his ability to string together doubles. Rendon led the league in doubles in both 2018 and 2019.
From 2017 to 2019, Rendon was a top 10 player in baseball, with three straight five-win seasons, including two six-win campaigns. He was such a versatile player. Rendon could hit for contact, hit for power and played excellent defense at third base.
However, 2019 was the crowning achievement of his career. That year he finished third in the MVP voting and had just ridiculous numbers. He hit .319 with a 1.010 OPS while hitting 34 home runs, 44 doubles and driving in 126 runs. The craziest part of it all was how easy Anthony Rendon made it all look. It was just another day at the office for Tony two bags.
Of course, that mentality would get him into trouble later in his career, but it was accepted in DC. Baseball was always just a job for Rendon, but when he was with the Nats, he had fun at work. I remember watching Rendon and Trea Turner play one-on-one basketball together during Spring Training one year. He was testy with the Angels, but he never had clubhouse problems with the Nats.
What really cemented Rendon’s legacy in DC was his playoff run in 2019. He really captained the Nats. Rendon came through time and time again in clutch moments. He was just automatic and the stats prove it. His numbers after the 7th inning of the Nats elimination games were just stupid good.
His home runs off Clayton Kershaw in the NLDS and Zack Greinke in Game 7 of the World Series started the Nats rallies. Rendon’s walk against Josh Hader in the Wild Card game is also one of the better at-bats I’ve ever seen. He casually took some great throws from Hader and passed the baton.
I know it’s not his style, but I really hope Rendon signs one of those one-day contracts with the Nats just to have some closure on his career. Knowing him, Anthony Rendon will probably never be heard from again, but it would be cool if he came back to DC.
Sure, Rendon made mistakes with the Angels and his personality rubbed people the wrong way. I still don’t think Rendon is a bad guy though. He was more involved with the Nats Foundation than anyone else when he was on the team and always had friends on the team in DC.
He just seems like a misunderstood character who hasn’t quite put his best foot forward in LA. Injuries also plagued him with the Angels and it took away the qualities that made him special. The spotlight his contract created was also something Rendon didn’t like. He just wanted to stay in the shadows and do his job.
The rest of the baseball world may hate Anthony Rendon, but DC will always love him. There is no World Series title in DC without Anthony Rendon. He was the team’s best player that 2019 season and his efforts will always be fondly remembered here. Thank you Anthony Rendon and congratulations on a wonderful career.
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