Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon made headlines this week when he stated baseball is not his top priority, but rather his family and faith are.
“It’s never been a top priority for me,” Rendon told reporters Monday at the team's spring training facility in Tempe, Ariz. “This is a job. I do this to make a living. My faith, my family come first before this job.”
This comment rubbed some people the wrong way — especially since Rendon has expressed apathy toward the life of a professional baseball player in the past.
Not all of Rendon's teammates have been quick to offer excuses for him in public.
One of those teammates is Jonathan Papelbon, who played alongside Rendon for two seasons (2015-16) with the Washington Nationals.
After Rendon's comments made the media rounds Monday, Papelbon ranted about why he doesn't think players taking that kind of approach is good.
"At the end of the day, this is what you sign up for. It drives me absolutely nuts. If this is what you believe, just keep your mouth shut, you don't got to say it ... To me that's just a cancer in the clubhouse."
– Jonathan Papelbon, via Foul Territory
"Every day this guy shows up to go up it was a chore. He strictly got away with raw athleticism and raw talent. There's a reason why he's not as successful as he really truly could be ... If I'm the Angels' GM, I'm trying to get rid of this dude as soon as I can."
– Jonathan Papelbon, via Foul Territory
Papelbon isn't running a major league front office. Angels owner Arte Moreno ostensibly had no trouble giving Rendon a seven-year, $245 million contract in 2019 – a testament to just how far Rendon's talent has gotten him.
Setting aside his potential to become a negative influence inside the Angels' clubhouse, Rendon hasn't had a chance to win over fans because he has missed so much time due to injury. He has appeared in just 148 of a possible 486 regular-season games the last three seasons due to injuries to his groin, wrist, shin, hip and hamstring. The Angels have missed the postseason every year during his tenure.
Now, Rendon sounds unenthusiastic about playing for the team. It's simply a bad look considering his injuries — to say nothing of his involvement in an altercation with a fan that led to a suspension last year.
It's understandable why Rendon's comments were met with disapproval among fans. To hear such strong words from a former teammate can only add fuel to the overwhelmingly negative reaction.
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