When you look for some of the worst contracts in MLB, it’s difficult to find anything that tops what the Angels handed Anthony Rendon in 2020. In an effort to build around Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, the Angels signed Rendon to a seven-year deal worth $245 million. Since then, Rendon has yet to play 60 games in a single season and rarely made an impact when he did play.
And his comments at Monday’s spring training camp can’t make the Angels feel any better about the disastrous contract.
Speaking to reporters, Rendon was asked about how he considered retirement last year. And that was when he said that his priorities had changed. When asked in a follow-up question where baseball fell in that list of priorities, Rendon admitted that baseball had never been a top priority for him.
Anthony Rendon on playing pro baseball:
"It’s never been a top priority for me. This is a job. I do this to make a living. My faith, my family come first before this job. So if those things come before it, I’m leaving."
Here's the full exchange: pic.twitter.com/xtgaywzNx9
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) February 19, 2024
While it’s totally fine to prioritize family over a job, it’s not a good look for a player making $38 million to broadcast that his job isn’t among his top priorities. When you take into account Rendon’s lack of availability during his time with the Angels, his 2024 spring camp couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start.
MLB fans weren’t thrilled with Rendon’s answer as well.
This was how Twitter reacted
angels guaranteeing rendon $245,000,000 https://t.co/hAPrzoeGbu pic.twitter.com/RpUA72wwiC
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) February 19, 2024
I'm the last guy who demands pro athletes to be all rah-rah about things but Rendon, man, he's definitely . . . different. https://t.co/Ptjn3A2Igq
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) February 19, 2024
This man is the highest paid third basemen ever (by average yearly salary), has played in ~35% of the games since signing that contract, and he still has 3 years left on it at $38 million per season guaranteed.
By the way, he hates baseball. https://t.co/9hjnjpCgWS
— Dylan (@dmoody46) February 19, 2024
Ron Washington heading over to Rendon’s locker after this https://t.co/HNGZgNdAbW pic.twitter.com/WBJgIFWHtt
— Stephen (@b_outliers) February 19, 2024
Man I am loving the Angels' spring vibes
Trout: I have chained myself to the radiator
Rendon: [yawns like a cat in a sunbeam]— Justin Klugh (@justin_klugh) February 19, 2024
Anthony Rendon hates baseball. He's got problems with its pace, with the number of games, it's never been a priority for him. Despises baseball. Which is why I'd like to be the first person to welcome Anthony Rendon as the 11th Commissioner in the history of Major League Baseball
— Razzball (@Razzball) February 19, 2024
We go live to the Angels the day after they signed him to a $245 million contract…. https://t.co/aMW7gtAtYb pic.twitter.com/8jGi6GPV72
— Cody Decker (@Decker6) February 19, 2024
Anthony Rendon meeting the media. https://t.co/ObwXL1oqXb pic.twitter.com/txFT84p1Py
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) February 19, 2024
it’s so funny how there are generous ways to read this (“he’s well-adjusted – family should be more important!”; “he’s saying he doesn’t like the business of it, but he still likes the game!”) and Anthony Rendon deserves absolutely none of them lol https://t.co/FDCyY9kayR
— phixated (@phixated) February 19, 2024
Don’t miss the important part of this Rendon quote: it’s a smart idea to go back and delete old emails to free up storage 👍 https://t.co/ukZDBlDaxd
— Zubes (@theZubes) February 19, 2024
The state of the Dodgers would look entirely different in 2024 if Anthony Rendon didn't pass on them because of the "Hollywood Lifestyle" https://t.co/tyu1eCNwVJ
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) February 19, 2024
Anthony Rendon might be the least likable non-criminal pro athlete ever? At least pretend you like the sport. https://t.co/czDWOPYRUT
— Danny (@papa_gleyber25_) February 19, 2024
