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Anthony Rendon appears to be out of Angels’ plans: report
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Anthony Rendon appears to be out of Angels’ plans: report

Anthony Rendon The period on the West Coast was tumultuous, to say the least.

The Los Angeles Angels third baseman was injured for most of his tenure and performed poorly even when healthy.

Due to his injuries and poor play, he likely won’t play regularly next season.

The angels would be aiming to add a third baseman this offseason. Another option could be moving Luis Rengifo to third base if 2024 first-round second baseman Christian Moore is ready for the major leagues after spring training.

Rendon’s performance hit a new low in 2024, finishing with a .218 batting average, 14 RBIs and no home runs. After the season, the Angels made it clear that Rendon will need to prove himself if he wants to keep his roster spot and remain at third base.

Since joining the Angels, Rendon has failed to play even 60 games in a single season. When he’s not injured, he still misses time due to multiple suspensions. And when he’s on the field, he’s far from the All-Star he was in 2019.

From 2017 to 2019, he hit consistently over .300, but over the past four seasons, he hasn’t hit .250 once. He also didn’t reach 10 homers or 40 RBIs in a season with the Angels, which really highlights how far he’s fallen from his peak.

Rendon’s potential playing time appears to have decreased further after the Angels traded for Jorge Soler from the Atlanta Braves. At first, the Los Angeles Angels’ trade for Soler seemed questionable.

Over the past eight seasons, Soler played primarily as a designated hitter. So why bring him from the Atlanta Braves, especially with a $13 million commitment over the next two years, when injury-prone Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon could both need time at DH?

The answer is between the lines. General manager Perry Minasian has made it clear that Rendon will have to earn his spot.

“When Anthony played, he wasn’t productive,” Minasian said in September, via Jeff Fletcher of Orange County Register. “So he’s going to have to come and earn it.” There are no documents. We’re starting to create some depth, where we have versatile players who can do different things, so the best players are going to play, without a doubt.