April 18: There’s still a “decent-sized gap” between Rendon’s asking price and what the Nationals are willing to offer, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (Twitter link). That said, the very fact that talks have continued into the season serves as a point of encouragement for Nats fans who are hoping to see Rendon locked up to a long-term pact.
April 16: The Nationals and third baseman Anthony Rendon met prior to tonight’s game to once again discuss a contract extension, MASNsports.com’s Mark Zuckerman first reported. Rendon met with not only general manager Mike Rizo but also managing principal owner Mark Lerner, per the report.
Like several other stars who’ve signed extensions over the past few months, Rendon is slated to reach free agency at season’s end. The increasingly prolonged nature of the free-agent process and colder-than-expected markets for even some of the game’s brightest stars have begun to push many players toward forgoing the entire process, however. Rendon would be the latest example, joining a list that includes the likes of Xander Bogaerts, Chris Sale and Nolan Arenado.
Rendon, 28, is off to an otherworldly start to his 2019 campaign, entering play Tuesday with a .400/.460/.873 batting line. He’s already clubbed six homers and eight doubles in just 63 trips to the plate, and he’s walked nearly as many times as he’s punched out (six and eight, respectively).
The Nationals and Rendon avoided arbitration this winter by agreeing to an $18.8MM salary for his final season of club control. Any extension would figure to come with a substantial raise in terms of annual value; Rendon may not quite reach the heights attained by Arenado (seven years, $234MM) or fellow third baseman Manny Machado (10 years, $300MM), but those lofty investments nonetheless underscore that a merely modest raise isn’t likely to dissuade Rendon from exploring free agency. Rendon is two years older than Machado but is only 10 months older than Arenado, so perhaps the length of Arenado’s extension will serve as a potential comp in renewed negotiations.
As of late spring, Rendon was somewhat candid in telling NBC Sports’ Todd Dybas that negotiations had “kind of come to a halt” and that the Nationals’ offer “wasn’t to where we thought we should be.” The exact size of contract that Rendon and agent Scott Boras are seeking isn’t clear. Boras clients have a reputation for testing the market rather than inking long-term deals before reaching free agency, though it’s worth noting that the aforementioned Bogaerts extension represents a notable exception to that line of thinking. So, too, does Rendon’s teammate Stephen Strasburg, who signed a $175MM extension with the Nats just under three years ago — at a time time when he was also in his final season of club control.
The Nats have been luxury-tax offenders in each of the past two seasons, but the outlook in that regard is substantially more clear in 2020. Bryce Harper’s decision to sign with the division-rival Phillies and the potential departure of Ryan Zimmerman next winter clear large numbers off the books; the Nationals will also likely see Brian Dozier, Howie Kendrick, Matt Adams, Jeremy Hellickson and Tony Sipp become free agents at season’s end. Trea Turner represents their only significant arbitration raise on the horizon.
Presently, the Nats only have about $110MM worth of 2020 salary counting against the luxury tax, leaving them nearly $100MM south of the barrier. That’d leave ample room not only for a Rendon extension but for additional offseason maneuverings next winter.
DarkSide830
i have my doubts this will succede, but then again the Rox got Arenado to accept, so anything’s possible.
klarmore11
I had an English prof who always told me never to write “so too did” or “so too does” when “so does” works just as well. So and too are a bit redundant right next to each other.
DarkSide830
here comes the grammar police
Rex Block
“Here come” the grammar police …
I Believe We Can Win
You volunteering to proof read articles for free or something? Never understood why people feel the need to say things like your grammar could be better. Its ok but could be better.
DarkSide830
Shalt thou not speaketh like the bard, thou shalt nay speaketh at all.
24TheKid
Maybe everyone just stop caring, because in the end, the grammar of this article has no real impact on anyone’s life, and neither does someone’s comment about the grammar whether it be from me or Klarmore11.
CobiEven
Well said.
seth3120
This is the worst of all the grammar comments I’ve seen. So you knew this one professor who said not to put those words together? It sounds as if you are saying his grammar is acceptable or correct but your professor doesn’t like it. Not only do we have to have these petty children who point out small grammatical errors we are now moving to the point where we comment that someone we know prefers we don’t use certain words together. That’s not just petty that’s ridiculous. Writers especially on a site with structure like this where they write multiple posts are trying to constantly mix up how they phrase things so it doesn’t become redundant. It’s to keep the readers attention and make it sound as interesting as possible. Sometimes they will make errors or god forbid phrase something in a way your professor twelve years ago didn’t like. I’ve seen some mistakes here that honestly should have been caught although I never comment. But this one definitely comes across like you wanted to find something to comment on. Go starts mlbgrammarrumors or something and lay off the actual baseball sites
seth3120
I usually don’t comment on the comment but this one is just too much for me. Some people are just obsessed with pointing out others mistakes and I’m not sure this even qualifies. It was well formed and put together providing the details on the current negotiation, the market change, the trend towards extensions, and added some recent comparable . .
chippahawk
The plague of social media strikes it’s ugly head once again.. 2 things people need to get used to:
1) trolls are always going to try and correct mistakes most normal folk let slide.
2) said trolls are always going to get made fun of in the comments section.
Stop trying to reinvent the wheel, nobody cares! It may make you feel smart inside, but it’s doing the opposite on the outside.
johnrealtime
This guy does this sort of thing regularly. While I agree with you I think it is best if we all just let i slide and ignore him, I think he is just trolling at this point. If no one reacts he would probably stop
seth3120
You’re right John this one just got under my skin. Bad enough these guys turn the smallest error into a thing but this one was basically fictitious. But reacting doesn’t help I admit
josephejones
I’m a professor who teaches grammar and find the syntax just fine. Much of what we teach stems from preferences and best practices, but there are relatively few hard and fast rules when it comes to language. I suggest you find another hobby, klarmore11.
Rex Block
So too do I.
Bryan
Honestly, I so do hate or is it “so too hate” your professor? Whichever, you so get my point
Yep it is
No way after the last couple of years would I let Blow Hard Boras wait till the end of the year and then play his tired worn out games.
Ejemp2006
I am betting Nats have offer of 6/200 sitting on tables. That takes him to age 36. Then if he doesn’t agree, they will media report offer and stay away from free agent bidding. Rendon is a lovely player with all beautiful skills but free agency calculates aging so he’ll have very tough time getting more than 6/200.
basquiat
Git ‘er done Mr. Lerner.
ericm25
I for one hope he ends up I. the AL as far as I’m concern. he absolutely destroys the phillies and would like for him to be as far away from the NL as possible..maybe the west coast some where
So, Boras do ur thing and get him to sign with may e the white Sox….
Z-A 2
20-21M AAV. He’s not in the same class as Nolan or Manny.
24TheKid
I would still take Arenado over him, but Rendon actually has a higher career OPS+ than Arenado. And while Arenado may be the best defender at third in baseball, Rendon isn’t bad himself. So I would not say that Rendon isn’t in the same class as Arenado.
tharrie0820
Rendon is probably one of the most underrated stars in all of baseball. Hell, there was even a commentor before that said he wasn’t even an elite player
its_happening
Rendon is better than Arenado. Arenado is Colorado-aided. Among all 3B in road statistics he wasn’t even in the Top 15 in OPS.
Natsfan133
Arenado’s offensive numbers are a product of Coors field. I think that’s why he extended his contract. The fact that Rendon hits better than Arenado really speaks volumes.
Ejemp2006
Arenado extended because big dollars whispered sweetly in his ear, “you have love for Colorado? Because we are Rockies in the pants for you.” Then contract signed. Read it here first. Inside scoop history!
seth3120
@Steve Adams I enjoyed the post/article and found it very professional. It contained the current situation on Rendon, it offered possible comparable extensions recently signed, a detailed comparison between Rendon and players who signed those contracts, it included his agent and his tendencies(with a couple exceptions mentioned), and an overview of the uncertain marker for free agents in recent years and it’s affects on players likelihood to be open to extensions. That’s what I took from it I didn’t notice any issues with the wording and while I’m no professor I’m not convinced anything was even grammatically incorrect. But you probably made someone’s day by writing it that way so he could point it out. I guess you wrote an article people can enjoy for different reasons. I’m just here for the baseball part
its_happening
Arenado away from Colorado is still a Top 5 Third Baseman, not Top 3. Rendon vs. Road Arenado, Rendon is better.
Solar Flare
Arenado actually got an 8 year/$260 million deal, not 7 years/$234 million.
Jeff Todd
We don’t count money a player was already going to earn – in this case, his 2019 arb salary.
Yankeedynasty
So is that why you listed the Trout extension as $360 million
nats3256
It looks like there is certainly money for a Rendon and Turner extension. There may even be money for a Kimbrel signing, if you did 3 years and back load it to the last two years to keep this year cheaper.
Batman69
plz dont… we need one good FA this year
DarkSide830
did you read the last paragraph?
khopper10
He means “we” as in the rest of the league seeking to acquire players in free agency and the fans looking for something to dream on.
stretch123
6 years 125 million?
hothothotinc
I’d like to see them offer him an 8 year contract at $20m a year.
Woods Rider
The Nats should do what they can to lock up Rendon, especially before season end. He’s an outstanding player and can be the face of their franchise for years to come. Having a cornerstone like him will help keep the Nats and the NL East a better division.
This is coming from a Phillies fan.
Philliesfan4life
Im a phillies fan as well, but I just don’t see them resigning him. They have almost a half of a billion dollars invested in three pitchers. They have a young core to build with from soto • robles and turner. I think Boras will be the cause again of them losing another star player. Rendon is the most underrated player in the leauge, and I don’t think he will take a home town discount.
Woods Rider
You may be right. The Nats were stupid with the deferred money and I can understand why Harper wouldn’t take that deal. They really have dug themselves in a big hole with those deferrals (and being the Greater Bank of Boras). Unless they work out an extension before the end of the season, I do not see Rendon returning either, which is why I really believe it needs to happen now if it is to happen at all.
I like Robles and Soto as well. Washington has a good squad.
Philliesfan4life
I honestly hope the angels get him, Trout needs more protection in that line up. They gave trout all of that money, now time to spend it and put talent around him.
Woods Rider
He certainly would be a good fit there. After signing that extension with Trout, they really need to put a team around him. Once Pujols comes off the books, you would think that the Angels wouldn’t have a problem affording Rendon. Having Rendon and Simmons on that side of the infield would be the best 3B/SS Combo in baseball one would think.
MBDaGod
If everybody knows hes the most underrated player in the league, is it still true? The Nats can’t afford to let Rendon walk.
Philliesfan4life
They can’t afford to let him walk but they have too much money invested with those three pitchers. He’s going to want something close to what Arenado got.
hothothotinc
Well said Angelsfan4life! Nice try!
Philliesfan4life
They are going to lose Rendon just like they lost Harper , they also have over a half of a billion dollars invested in 3 pitchers.
Koamalu
If there was no “gap between Rendon’s asking price and what the Nationals are willing to offer” then he would have already signed. Another way of saying there is no new news.
bigkempin
Probably something like this….Rendon/Boras “we’d like 7/$200M” Nats “Ok, 7/$180M deferred over 35 years”
ElMagoN9ne
5/110. That sounds about right for a player like him and that’s still overpay