Anthony Rendon: Spotrac| Fangraphs| House| What happened to

Introduction

Anthony Rendon was once considered among the elite third basemen in Major League Baseball (MLB). With steady production during his time with Washington Nationals, he earned a massive free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels. But today, questions swirl around what happened to him — from declining performance and injuries, to his future both on and off the field. In this article, we dive into Rendon’s career arc, his contract and salary via Spotrac, advanced metrics often tracked by Fangraphs, his real-estate ventures, and where he stands now.

Early Career and Rise to Stardom

• Rendon played college baseball at Rice Owls, where he quickly made a name for himself. As a true freshman, he hit .388 with 20 home runs and 72 RBIs in 61 games — earning Freshman of the Year, All-American honors, and multiple other accolades.

• His breakout college career continued: in 2010, he batted .394 with 26 home runs and 85 RBIs, winning the Dick Howser Trophy as College Player of the Year.

• Rendon was drafted in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft and made his MLB debut on April 21, 2013 with the Washington Nationals.

• Over the next several seasons, he developed into one of MLB’s most reliable third basemen — balancing offensive firepower with defensive reliability, and earning multiple accolades (including two Silver Slugger Awards).

By 2019, Rendon had firmly established himself as a top-tier player: that season, he led the majors in RBIs, helping the Nationals to a World Series crown before entering free agency.

Spotrac & Contract: The $245 Million Gamble

One of the biggest turning points in Rendon’s career was the free-agent deal he signed with the Angels:

• According to Spotrac, Rendon signed a 7-year, US$245,000,000 contract with the Angels — an average annual salary of US$35,000,000.

• This contract was seen as a big bet: the Angels were banking on Rendon’s prime years to supply a consistent middle-of-the-lineup bat and solid defense at third base.

At the time, the deal made sense on paper — Rendon’s age, performance history, and reputation all aligned to justify a major long-term investment.

Fangraphs & Performance: Why the Numbers Didn’t Hold Up

While traditional stats and reputation got Rendon the big contract, advanced metrics and real-world results revealed a different story post-2019:

• After joining the Angels, Rendon’s career was marred by constant injuries. Since 2021, he never played more than 58 games in a season.

• In fact, over five seasons in Anaheim (2020–2024), he appeared in just 257 of a possible 648 games, only about 39.7% of games.

• 2025 was especially bleak: Rendon missed the entire season due to hip surgery.

• As a result, his on-field value dropped dramatically. Before the contract with the Angels, Rendon had seasons where he consistently delivered 20+ home runs, high RBIs, and a strong overall slash line. But with the Angels, that level of production didn’t return.

Many now point to Rendon’s Angels stint as a textbook example of how even elite players can become high-risk long-term investments when injuries are involved. Some analysts have called it “one of the worst contracts” in recent MLB history.

House & Lifestyle: Off-Field Realities

With a contract of that magnitude, it was inevitable that Rendon’s lifestyle and off-field investments would reflect his earnings:

• During his early years with the Angels, Rendon purchased a substantial mansion in Newport Beach, California — a reflection of his market value and expected long-term stability in Southern California.

• Off the field, Rendon was known as quiet, modest, and family-oriented. He is a devoted husband and father of four.

• Outside of baseball, Rendon has often spoken about perspective: even at the peak of his career, he has described baseball not as a passion but as a “job,” emphasizing that family and faith come before the sport.

This off-field persona has helped some defend his tenure with the Angels, arguing that external expectations (fits, health) mattered as much as raw talent.

What Happened to Him? — The Decline, Injuries, and Exit

So why did Rendon go from star third baseman to someone whose career might be over? Here’s a breakdown of what went wrong:

 Injuries & Health Issues

• Since signing with the Angels, Rendon dealt with a string of injuries: hip, wrist, hamstring, groin, back, and more.

• The 2022 season ended with wrist surgery; that same season, he was suspended for five games after involvement in a brawl — a side note, but symptomatic of a rough period for him.

• 2025 proved terminal: a required hip surgery caused him to miss the entire season.

Declining Production & Value

• Over five seasons with the Angels, Rendon played only 257 games — just under 40% of possible games.

• The combination of limited availability and lower performance made the massive contract look increasingly untenable.

Loss of Desire / Burnout

Beyond physical issues, reports suggest Rendon had grown disillusioned with the daily grind of baseball:

• In 2024, he reportedly said baseball “has never been a top priority” compared to family and faith.

• Some teammates and observers have defended Rendon’s attitude, arguing that for many long-time players, the sport becomes more of a job than a passion — especially under the weight of high expectations and long seasons.

 Contract Buyout & Expected Retirement

• As of November 2025, the Angels and Rendon are reportedly in talks to buy out the final year of his contract (worth about US$38 million).

• If a deal is reached, Rendon is widely expected to retire from MLB.

• Many analysts consider his seven-year, US$245M deal among the biggest “bust deals” in recent MLB history, in light of limited returns on investment.

One former teammate summarized the situation bluntly: the contract will “go down in infamy,” but ultimately, the business side of baseball takes its toll.

What About Fangraphs? (And Why It Matters)

While many fans follow traditional stats — batting average, home runs, RBIs — advanced metrics (as tracked by sites like FanGraphs) provide deeper insights into a player’s value. For Rendon, these metrics help explain why his contract unraveled:

• Injuries and reduced playing time decimated his cumulative value. A multi-year, high-salary contract expects consistent “wins above replacement” (WAR), but Rendon simply didn’t deliver due to frequent absences.

• The drop in plate appearances, defensive value, and overall durability means his per-game value likely plummeted — making the $245M deal hard to justify by WAR or value-based metrics.

• For teams that rely on advanced metrics when evaluating long-term deals, Rendon’s case is often cited as a cautionary tale: even elite players with high floor-off potential can become liabilities if health and playing time aren’t maintained.

In short: the Fangraphs-style analytics exposed what wasn’t obvious through traditional stats — that Rendon’s long-term decline began soon after signing, and that injuries made him an enormous risk. Anthony Rendon.

Life Off the Field: House, Family & Personal Values

It’s often easy to reduce Rendon’s story to wins and losses — but off the field, there’s another dimension:

• With his big contract, Rendon bought a large mansion in Newport Beach, California — a sign of financial success and expected permanence with the Angels.

• He has maintained a low profile, described by many as quiet and modest. Family and faith are priorities for him — he has four children, and has repeatedly said that the game of baseball is “a job,” not a lifelong passion.

• Even as critics painted him as underperforming or disinterested, some former teammates defended him — arguing that the business and grind of MLB can wear players down and change their perspective on the game.

For Rendon, the fallout from his time with the Angels might sting in baseball terms — but on a personal level, he seems to have remained grounded in his values and priorities. Anthony Rendon.

What’s Next? The End of an Era

As of late 2025:

• The Angels and Rendon are reportedly negotiating a buyout of the final year of his contract (about US$38 million).

• If a deal is reached, Rendon is expected to retire — bringing to a close what many consider one of the most disappointing high-priced contracts in MLB history.

• For analysts, front offices, fans — Rendon’s story serves as a lesson: high performance plus massive contracts don’t always guarantee long-term success; durability, health, and consistent output matter just as much as peak talent.

As one former Angel put it: the divorce between Rendon and the team might be “unfortunate” — but perhaps inevitable, given how little value the club got for its investment. Anthony Rendon.

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did the Angels sign Anthony Rendon to such a large contract?
A: At the time, Rendon was one of the premier third basemen in MLB — consistent offensive production, strong defense, and durability made him a top free-agent target. The Angels expected him to anchor their infield and boost their offense for years.

Q: What went wrong during his time with the Angels?
A: Multiple issues derailed Rendon’s Angels tenure: recurring injuries (hip, wrist, hamstring, back), surgeries, limited playing time — and by some accounts, declining passion or motivation for the grind of a 162-game season.

Q: How much did Rendon get paid under his contract?
A: He signed a 7-year deal worth US$245 million, with an average annual salary of about US$35 million.

Q: Did he live up to that contract from a performance standpoint?
A: No. Due to frequent injuries and limited playing time, Rendon never played more than 58 games in a season with the Angels. His cumulative production fell far short of expectations, and many analysts now view the contract as one of the worst in recent MLB history.

Q: What is Anthony Rendon doing now? Is he retiring?
A: As of November 2025, the Angels and Rendon are reportedly negotiating a buyout of the final year of his contract. If the deal goes through, Rendon is expected to retire from professional baseball. Anthony Rendon.

Final Thoughts

Anthony Rendon’s journey — from collegiate star to big-money free agent to a cautionary tale of injuries and contract risk — underscores a provocative truth in modern professional sports: talent and reputation are only part of the equation. Health, longevity, consistency, and even mindset play equally vital roles in defining success.

His massive Spotrac contract may go down as one of the worst investments in recent MLB memory; his Fangraphs numbers and injury record support that verdict. But Rendon’s off-field life — his house in Newport Beach, his focus on family and faith — suggests that sometimes players may prioritize peace and stability over performance.

In the end, whether one views Rendon’s career as tragedy or trade-off depends on perspective. But as the Angels move on, his story will likely serve as a lesson — for agents, general managers, and players alike — about the risks involved with “betting big.”