Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Angels need to move on from Anthony Rendon

Anthony Rendon made sense for the Los Angeles Angels.

Rendon was coming off an impressive 2019 season with the Nationals. He posted a .319/.412/.598 batting line in his 646 plate appearances, belting 34 homers and 44 doubles while driving in a major league-leading 126 runs. 

He made his second All-Star team, finished third in the NL MVP vote and won a Silver Slugger. His seven-year, $245 million contract theoretically gave the Angels a formidable trio with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani.

Reality has not matched the Angels' dreams. Rendon had a strong first season in the pandemic-shortened 2020 but has fallen apart since. 

Injuries have held him to a total of 148 games over the last three seasons. He had produced a .235/.338/.364 batting line in his 625 plate appearances, hitting 13 homers and 29 doubles. His lack of production led one writer to call his contract the worst in baseball history.

Rendon has not endeared himself to Angels fans in that time either. There have been questions about how injured he has been in that time and his desire to get on the diamond. 

Sam Blum of The Athletic called out Rendon for unprofessional behavior last year, referring to locker room statements he did not disclose.

Questions about Rendon's commitment and desire got worse on Monday. 

In an exchange with Blum, Rendon stated that playing baseball has "never been a top priority" to him, calling it "a job." 

Rendon sidestepped whether or not he wanted to be playing with the Angels, saying he answered the question already.

The Angels are stuck with Rendon for the next three years. He is due approximately $115.7 million, has a no-trade clause and does not have any opt-out clauses. 

Even if he did, Rendon would never get close to that sort of salary in free agency. He will continue to be part of the roster, occasionally getting on the diamond with his disappointing production.

The Angels have one option. They can choose to release Rendon, removing him from the roster entirely. While the Angels would be on the hook for his remaining salary, it is already a sunk cost. Such a move would be addition by subtraction, removing someone who does not want to be there. 

Afterward, maybe the Angels can find their way back to contention by removing that influence from the clubhouse. It is time to move on. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Watch: Chris Kreider's natural third-period hat trick shatters Hurricanes' comeback hopes
Dodgers starter undergoes season-ending UCL surgery
Knicks star ruled out for potential closeout game
Veteran NFL safety will either play for this team or retire in 2024
Former Red Wings head coach linked to open NHL job
How Patriots' Drake Maye has already impressed Jacoby Brissett
LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry among Forbes' highest-paid athletes for 2024
Steve Cohen addresses if Mets could again be trade-deadline sellers
Tiger Woods ruins strong first round with sloppy finish at PGA Championship
Xander Schauffele makes history in first round of PGA Championship
NFL responds to speculation about Chiefs schedule and Taylor Swift
Despite hopes for change, NASCAR championship weekend will return to Phoenix in 2025
Chiefs will achieve something not done since 1927 with 2024 schedule
Caitlin Clark's debut was most-watched WNBA game in more than 20 years
Yankees' Aaron Judge comments on resurgence after bad slump
Odell Beckham Jr. reveals why he was 'hesitant' to join Dolphins
Lakers reportedly interested in adding three-time All-Star via trade
Luka Doncic fed off negative reactions in Game 5 win over Thunder
Celtics finally put away undermanned Cavaliers, advance to conference finals
Avalanche force Game 6 with big third period vs. Stars