Angels sign Rendon to 7-year deal worth reported $245M
The Los Angeles Angels and free-agent Anthony Rendon have agreed to a seven-year contract, the team announced Friday.
The star third baseman will earn $245 million over the course of the contract, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.
Rendon's contract features a full no-trade clause and doesn't include any opt-outs, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. There's also no deferred money in the deal, Feinsand adds.
It's the largest free-agent contract ever given by the Angels - Mike Trout's deal was an extension - according to MLB.com's Sarah Langs. It's also the most lucrative contract, in terms of annual average salary, for a third baseman in MLB history.
The Angels shifted focus to Rendon after missing out on ace right-hander Gerrit Cole, who signed with the New York Yankees late Tuesday evening.
The Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Washington Nationals were all linked to Rendon. Texas offered Rendon a six-year deal that fell just shy of $200 million, sources told Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.
Rendon's deal adds to a big offseason for agent Scott Boras, who's been especially busy during the winter meetings this week.
The 29-year-old Rendon joins an Angels lineup that already features the likes of reigning AL MVP Trout, two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani, outfielder Justin Upton, and defensive wizard Andrelton Simmons.
Rendon is coming off his best season in the majors, as he hit .319/.412/.598 with 34 home runs, 44 doubles, and 126 RBIs while helping the Nationals earn the franchise's first-ever World Series championship.
The Angels probably aren't done, either, as they're still planning to add pitching. The team is pursuing free agents Madison Bumgarner, Dallas Keuchel, and Hyun-Jin Ryu while also kicking the tires on Colorado Rockies right-hander Jon Gray and others via trade.