Anthony Rendon Devastated To Learn He Won't Be Playing Baseball For A While

For Anthony Rendon, 2024 was supposed to be somewhat of a redemption year. 

Rendon signed a 7-year, $245 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels before the 2020 season; arguably a justified contract considering his 2019 season resulted in 6.8 WAR. That marked three consecutive seasons for Rendon exceeding 5.5 wins above replacement, and two out of three with an on-base percentage over .400. 

His first year in Anaheim seemed to indicate that his success would continue; in the shortened 2020 season Rendon hit .286/.418/.497, a batting line 52 percent better than league average. Along with his typically solid defense, he contributed 2.5 WAR in just 52 games. But then the wheels fell off. 

From 2021-2023, Rendon battled injury after injury, playing just 138 games in three years. Even when on the field, he was disappointing, to say the least. After 18.2 WAR from 2017-2019, Rendon contributed just 1.4 wins from 2021-2023. Then he made it so much worse. 

Just before the 2024 season started, Rendon told the media that he never viewed baseball as a "top priority."

READ: Well-Paid MLBer Anthony Rendon Says Baseball Isn't 'Top Priority'

For someone making $35 million per year to play baseball, it was an odd, off-putting statement, to say the least. And now, after just 19 games in 2024, he's set to miss an extended period of time with another injury. He must be furious.

Anthony Rendon of the Los Angeles Angels. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Anthony Rendon Says He's ‘Frustrated’ To Be Missing More Time

Earlier this week, Rendon was placed on the injured list with what was described as a hamstring strain. But on Friday, he told the media that the injury was far more serious; not a strain, but a partial hamstring tear. 

That's a far more serious setback that could keep him out for up to two months. He must be furious that he doesn't have to play baseball for a few months!

"I'm definitely not going to be back in the 10-day window," Rendon explained. "It's been four years running now. So I was angry for a few days, frustrated, mad, everything you could imagine because the game keeps getting taken away from me, right? I want to win, and I want to be out there. I do everything in my power to stay out there, and it seems like nothing is working."

Injuries aren't fun, and Rendon obviously doesn't want to get hurt. But when you tell the public how little you care about playing baseball, it's inevitably going to create an assumption that being off the field doesn't actually bother you. 

The Angels now sit at 10-16, with their already minuscule playoff hopes dwindling. Rendon isn't the player he used to be, but with him out for several months, expectations for a return to form in 2024 are essentially gone. Poor Mike Trout.