The Los Angeles Angels and third baseman Anthony Rendon have agreed to restructure the final year of his contract, ensuring he will not play in 2026. This deal defers his $38 million salary over several years, providing the team with financial flexibility. Rendon's tenure with the Angels has been marred by injuries, limiting him to just 257 games over five seasons.
The agreement, reported by multiple sources including MLB.com and The Athletic, involves deferring Rendon's 2026 salary—originally set at $38,571,429—over a period of three to five years, though exact terms remain undisclosed. The Angels have not yet officially announced the restructuring. General manager Perry Minasian had indicated at the Winter Meetings that the club was exploring options to defer the payment for short-term flexibility, navigating approvals from Rendon's agent Scott Boras, MLB, and the MLBPA.
Rendon, who signed a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Angels before the 2020 season following a World Series title with the Washington Nationals, has struggled with injuries since joining the team. He underwent hip surgery before the 2025 season, marking his second such procedure and sidelining him for the entire year—his second consecutive missed season. Over five years with the Angels, Rendon appeared in 257 of 1,032 possible games, batting .242/.348/.369 with 22 home runs and 125 RBIs. In 2024, his last active season, he hit .218/.307/.267 with no homers and 14 RBIs in 57 games.
Despite the restructuring, Rendon is not immediately retiring and will remain on the active roster, though the Angels plan to place him on the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man roster spot. One report suggests he is expected to retire once the buyout is finalized. Rendon's career stats stand at .280/.364/.464 with 158 homers and 671 RBIs in 1,173 games, including Silver Slugger awards in 2014 and 2019, an All-Star selection in 2019, and a third-place finish in NL MVP voting that year.
With Rendon out, the Angels are seeking a third baseman this offseason, alongside needs at starter, relief pitching, and center field. They recently signed reliever Kirby Yates to a one-year, $5 million deal. The team finished 72-90 in 2025, extending their streak of 10 consecutive losing seasons.
