What's Next For the Halos if the Anthony Rendon Buyout Goes Through?
December 8, 2025 - Written by Jack Argent
The Angels and Anthony Rendon are in talks to buy out the final year of his contract, per @Alden_Gonzalez
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) November 26, 2025
The expectation is that he will retire pic.twitter.com/KEI66E1xUc
As we settle into December and the Winter Meetings get underway, excitement around the league is starting to build. There is a front office move that is at the top of every Angel fan’s Christmas list: an Anthony Rendon buyout that frees the burden of one of the worst contracts in baseball. Angel fans have many reasons to hold a grudge against Rendon. For starters, committing a quarter million dollars to play only 257 of 870 games which is equal to 29.5% of potential games is a complete disgrace. And even when Rendon takes the field, the product is very subpar. From 2020-2025, Anthony Rendon posted a .242 batting average, 3.9 WAR, .717 OPS, 100 OPS+, and only 125 RBIs; which is only less than he put up in 2019 with the World Series winning Nationals. And to wrap a bow on all of Rendon’s problems, the guy doesn’t even love the game of baseball. Many kids across the world dream of getting a chance to play in the major leagues and would do anything to play at the level. Meanwhile, Rendon sees baseball as just a job and not a passion, he has expressed this point of view by making statements such as “It’s [baseball] never been a top priority for me… This is a job. I do it for a living.” Now that Anthony Rendon’s time with the Angels could be coming to an end soon, let’s take a look at what could be next for the Halos.
Unlocks Trade and Free Agency Flexibility
The Angels have already cleared $13 million with the Taylor Ward for Grayson Rodriguez swap, with the Rendon buyout there is a potential for a majority of his $38 million dollar contract to also come off the books, however likely not in the form of luxury tax relief. This still could help the Angels take a big swing in free agency to address their weakness at third base, starting pitcher, or outfield. When it comes to starting pitchers, a buyout could potentially allow the Angels to go after big ticket arms such as Framer Valdez, Ranger Suárez, or Tatsuya Imai. And even though former 2022 all star Alek Manoah has been signed to a 1 year deal worth $1.95 million, Minasian could even spread the budget by selecting from some of the mid-tier suitors such as Michael King, Chris Bassitt, or Zac Gallen. This spread out budget can also allow Perry to address the outfield and third base needs. This can open the door to acquiring guys at 3rd such as Eugenio Suárez, or even prolific Japanese talents Kazuma Okamoto or Munetaka Murakami. In addition to free agency, Perry has the option to address the third base need via the trade by going after guys like Alec Bohm or Nolan Arenado to name a few.
A Much Needed Removal of Locker Room Negativity
A large portion of Anthony Rendon’s remembrance as a Halo can often be pointed to how he carried himself off the field, and it is safe to say it had a damaging effect to this ballclub as a whole. Due to him always dealing with some form of injury (or just not wanting to play baseball), Rendon would often be questioned by the press about where he is in a respective rehab process. Rendon would frequently respond with half-hearted and disrespectful answers while simultaneously showcasing uninterested body language. And although it wasn’t abundantly clear if Rendon’s lack of respect and lazy work ethic had a direct effect on the Angels, it can likely be inferred that this level of negativity really caused a disconnection with his teammates,the coaching staff, the training staff, and the front office. And although the past decade of failure isn’t completely on Rendon, a common theme with most teams that contend to win championships are the teams that create brotherhoods; teams that have players that truly play for each other and not just to make money and do it for a living. Moving on from Rendon would allow for this team to move forward and connect closer with each other without an unnecessary external distraction as big as Rendon.
Allowing Rendon to End His Career on His Terms
One of the more underrated reasons to push for an Anthony Rendon buyout would be for him to fulfill his desire to retire from Major League Baseball for good. Although Angels fans were frequently frustrated with how Rendon approached baseball, most fans would like to see Rendon live a peaceful life in his hometown in Katy, Texas. Because at the end of the day, the buyout can result in turning a page to where the Angels can no longer have to force Rendon back on the field, and Anthony Rendon can happily retire and prioritize areas of his life he values such as faith and family.
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