Angels' Latest Free Agent Signing Could Be Bad News For $245 Million Veteran

Ultimately, it was the Angels who decided to bring in the veteran infielder. In doing so, it is bad news for Angels veteran Anthony Rendon. 

In November, Angels general manager Perry Minasian spoke about Rendon's future with the team during an episode of "Foul Territory."

"He's {Rendon} gonna have to come in and show us he can still play and earn the right to play every day," Minasian continued. "Are we a better team with Anthony Rendon on the field? Absolutely...We need it. He’s well aware of that."

It was a strong statement from Minasian, who brought up Rendon's availability concerns. 

Rendon won a World Series with the Washington Nationals and made the All-Star team in 2019. However, since coming to the Angels in 2019, he has played in just 257 games across five seasons. To make things worse, the Angels gave Rendon a seven-year, $245 million contract. 

Rendon has also not played in more than 60 games in any of the years he has been with the Angels, so there are concerns about him. 

Now, with Moncada agreeing to a deal, some wonder if Rendon will come off the bench, and Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors stated that is "likely." 

"General manager Perry Minasian said at the beginning of the offseason that the Angels were not committed to giving that job back to Anthony Rendon. He’s likely headed to the bench as he enters the sixth season of his seven-year free agent deal," Franco wrote. 

Moncada was the 9th-best remaining free agent in the latest list by Blecher Report's Kerry Miller. 

Moncada played in just 12 games last year due to an adductor strain injury, and while his recent numbers have been underwhelming, it could make for an interesting Spring Training battle between him and Rendon.