Bad Deals

By: Mike Rifkin

On Monday, MLB announced a four-game suspension for Angels’ third baseman Anthony Rendon for his conduct with a fan in Oakland on opening day. For Rendon, this is his second suspension in the last two seasons, and he was suspended for five games in June during a bench-clearing brawl between the Angels and Mariners despite being on the injured list at the time. After winning the World Series with the Nationals in 2019, Rendon signed a seven-year 245 million-dollar contract with the Angels. Before this season, Rendon has played 157 games as an Angel. He has 20 home runs and 90 RBI with a slash line of .249/.356/.415. 

But here’s a question is Rendon the worst contract the Angels have given out recently? In 2013 the Angels signed Josh Hamilton to a five-year 125 million dollar contract. Hamilton played in 240 games with the Angels and had 31 home runs and 123 RBI’S with a slash line of .255/.316/.426. The Angels traded Hamilton back to the Texas Rangers, where he was a star. 

People will complain about Albert Pujols’ contract, but that contract didn’t age well. Pujols had six seasons with 20-plus home runs and three seasons with 30-plus home runs. The CJ Wilson contract wasn’t as bad; he had a 3.87 ERA in four seasons and won 51 games. We’ll have to see what the Angels will have in store for Shohei Ohtani, a free agent after the season.  They also have the Mike Trout 12-year 426 million dollar contract. Now I will not say that is a bad contract because Trout remains one of the best players in baseball. Still, if they don’t surround him with talent, continue to miss the playoffs, and do not let him perform on the biggest playoffs stage, one will have to wonder if that becomes a bad contract they might have to rid themselves of.