Anthony Rendon Hurt Again After Saying He Doesn’t Care About Baseball

The Los Angeles Angels got more bad news about their very expensive third baseman, Anthony Rendon, on Tuesday afternoon.

Since signing a 7-year, $245 million contract before the 2020 MLB season, Rendon has played just 200 games in four years. Thanks to battling injuries, poor performance, then more injuries, he's added just 3.6 WAR combined for the Angels while receiving nearly $140 million in salary. There are worse ways to make a living. 

Or there would be, if you were anyone other than Anthony Rendon. After years of disappointing performances and an inability to stay on the field, he also made headlines recently when discussing his love for the game, or lack thereof.

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

As the Angels enter the first season in the post-Shohei Ohtani era, for the team to have any shot at a postseason berth, it's even more imperative this season that Rendon performs somewhere closer to his expected level. Except that train may have already left the tracks before the regular season even starts.

Media reports from Angels camp on Tuesday revealed that Rendon is dealing with "groin discomfort," keeping him off the field the past few days. Though manager Ron Washington said he isn't worried about it, for a player with repeated injury concerns, it's not encouraging.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MAY 09:  Anthony Rendon #6 of the Los Angeles Angels in the seventh inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 09, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Anthony Rendon Injury Problems Starting Early In 2024

Rendon also claims to not be worried about the groin discomfort, but after not playing a full, 162-game season since 2019, injuries in spring training are the opposite of what fans and the organization are hoping for.

At just 33, Rendon, in theory, should still be in the back end of the prime of his career. But it's hard to project much optimism when he's already battling "discomfort" and has publicly discussed his lack of interest in the sport. 

Few around the sport expect much out of the Angels in 2024 after losing Ohtani and replacing him with effectively nothing. A mediocre farm system, ineffective development history and injury-plagued stars don't help either. Mike Trout is still one of the game's best players when healthy, but like Rendon, he hasn't been able to stay on the field much over the past few seasons.

With a few weeks left before the start of the regular season, there's still time for Rendon to recover and start on Opening Day, but would it surprise anyone if he's back on the IL sooner rather than later?