Fan Interference

Anthony Rendon’s set for his payday, signing a 245 million deal over the next 7 years.  The start third-baseman will make his way over to the Angels on a deal which includes a full no-trade clause, no opt-outs, and no deferrals.

It’s been one hell of a week for Scott Boras, who’s signed three clients to deals totaling 814 Million dollars.  Just let that sit in for a minute.

Rendon earned his enormous payday – one that outdoes the seven-year, $234MM extension Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado signed last winter – with a superb tenure in Washington. The 2011 sixth overall pick debuted two years later and proceeded to post four seasons with upward of 6.0 fWAR as a member of the Nationals. Somehow, though, he didn’t earn an All-Star nod until 2019. That will go down as his best and most memorable Nats campaign, as he slashed a remarkable .319/.412/.598 with a personal-high 34 home runs and a career-best 7.0 fWAR during the regular season. Rendon carried his excellence into the postseason, where he was an integral part of the team’s improbable run to a championship. On the game’s biggest stage, Rendon logged a 1.003 OPS with three homers. His Game 7 World Series HR against the Astros woke up the Nationals in the seventh inning, helping lead to a title-winning comeback.

Rendon joins Bryce Harper as the second major star to leave Washington in as many years, however the Nats won’t be left completely empty handed as they will receive a competitive balance pick in return as the Angels will surrender their second highest pick next year.  Rendon should fit in really nicely in the lineup with Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, and Andrelton Simmons.  The Angels also recently acquired Dylan Bundy from the Orioles.

With Rendon’s departure from the free agent market, that leaves Josh Donaldson and Madison Bumgarner as the top remaining Free Agents on the market.