TEMPE, Ariz. — The Los Angeles Angels have announced that third baseman Anthony Rendon will require hip surgery, sidelining him for a considerable duration as he continues to face significant injury issues. This latest setback marks yet another chapter in a challenging tenure for Rendon since joining the Angels.
General manager Perry Minasian informed reporters at the team’s spring training facility that this marks the fifth straight season in which Rendon will miss a substantial amount of game time. As he embarks on the sixth year of a staggering $245 million, seven-year contract, the Angels have yet to secure a winning season since 2015, and their last playoff appearance came in 2014.
Turning 35 in June, Rendon’s physical struggles have been pronounced; he has played in merely 205 games over the last four years and has found himself on the injured list 12 times since 2021. Just this past season, he faced three separate stints on the injured list due to a hamstring issue, lower back pain, and oblique strains, resulting in a disappointing .218 batting average with no home runs and 14 RBIs over 57 games.
Overall, he has managed to play in only 257 games while missing 451 games due to various injuries during his time with the Angels. The hefty investment in Rendon came after a standout 2019 season with the Washington Nationals, where he hit .319 with 34 home runs, leading the majors with 126 RBIs and playing a pivotal role in securing the Nationals’ first World Series Championship.
Owner Arte Moreno made the expensive signing soon after the Angels lost out on acquiring ace pitcher Gerrit Cole, who opted to sign with the New York Yankees instead of the Angels. However, even at full health, Rendon has struggled to replicate his previous success from his Nationals days. Since joining the Angels, he has only managed a .242 batting average along with 22 home runs and 125 RBIs, compared to his .290 average, 136 home runs, and 546 RBIs amassed over seven seasons in Washington.
Rendon has also garnered frustration from Angels supporters with comments regarding his commitment to the game, noting in the past two years that baseball has “never been a top priority for me.” He has expressed dissatisfaction with the length of the MLB season and even mentioned thoughts of retirement early in his professional career.
The substantial financial burden of Rendon’s contract has restricted the Angels in their pursuit of elite free agents, leading the team to utilize multiple substitutes at third base during his repeated absences due to injury. The latest addition to their roster at third base appears to be Yoán Moncada, who struggled last season with just 12 appearances for the White Sox due to injuries. Moncada recently signed a deal worth $5 million with the Angels as they seek to fill the gap left by Rendon’s absence.
