The Angels announced that infielder Anthony Rendon has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left wrist contusion. A corresponding move wasn’t announced and may not come until tomorrow since the club is off today. The move is presumably backdated to Friday June 16 since Rendon last played on Thursday.
Rendon was hit on the wrist with a pitch in Thursday’s contest and then sat out the weekend. The club was hoping that a few days off could get him back into game shape but it seems that hasn’t come to pass and they will now give him another week off to fully recuperate.
While this injury was a fluke that Rendon had little control over, it nonetheless continues a frustrating pattern in recent years as he’s yet to play 60 games in a season since signing a seven-year, $245MM deal with the Angels after 2019. The contract began with the pandemic-shortened 2020 season but Rendon has made multiple IL trips in each campaign since, as this will be his second stint on the shelf this year. He got into just 58 games in 2021 while dealing with a groin strain, knee contusion, hamstring strain and hip impingement. Last year, it was just 47 contests with his right wrist the primary culprit. This year, he’s been limited to 38 games so far due to a groin strain and now this wrist contusion.
Those injuries have coincided with a drop in his production. He hit .286/.418/.497 in the first year of the deal for a wRC+ of 152 but he’s slashed just .238/.338/.364 since then for a wRC+ of 98. Despite that diminished performance, his absence will be a challenge for the Halos as they also have infielders Zach Neto and Gio Urshela on the injured list.
The past two games have seen the club use an infield alignment of Luis Rengifo, Andrew Velazquez, Michael Stefanic and Brandon Drury from left to right. Jared Walsh is also an option to play first base as Drury moves over to one of the other spots. That’s a less than ideal situation as Drury is the only player in that group with much offensive success in recent seasons. Rengifo was decent in 2022 but is hitting just .203/.288/.291 this year. Walsh has some past success but has declined in recent years while battling injuries, currently batting .125/.253/.234 here in 2023. Velazquez has a career line of .193/.244/.295 while Stefanic has just 27 games of experience.
With Rendon now set to miss more time, the club can bring someone else into that mix. Jake Lamb and Liván Soto are options on the 40-man roster while non-roster options include David Fletcher. Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register adds that outfielder Hunter Renfroe has been getting some work at first base lately and could be an option there, which opens the possibility of recalling another outfielder like Jo Adell.
Despite the challenges they are facing with their multiple infield injuries, the Angels are playing well, winning seven of their last 10 games and currently in possession of an American League Wild Card spot.
Not to worry Angels fans, only 3 more years of this at $38M annually and you’ll be done with him.
Reminder to all fans you don’t want your team to sign free agents for multiple years ever. Too many risks involved when you can get similar production out of a younger cheaper player for 1/50th of the cost.
A reminder to all fans if you want to watch a losing team, watch the one that has not signed any players to long term deals.
And then it’ll be time to replace him with the next bad contract.
Keep in mind that X-rays came back negative. It’s listed as a contusion, so it’s a bad bruise and it hurts. It’s about pain management.
The team needs Rendon now more than ever. I’ve played with a lot of guys who sucked it up and played for the team. Unfortunately Rendon is clearly not one of those guys.
We are not talking about little league. He got hit with a 90+ mph fastball on the wrist. Nevin said he can’t grip a bat.
That you are even trying to say that he should suck it up tells us clearly that you never played beyond little league.
He will play great the last year of the contract and get a 5 year extension!
In other obvious news, water is still wet. God I knew that Rendon signing would haunt them. He just inst ever gonna be the same. I see him honestly retiring at end of angels contract.
Should change the name from the “Injured List” to the “Rendon List”.
Your avatar and username are awesome. That is all, carry on!
Sabin is the GOAT
The Giancarlo Haniger Rendon-Paxton list
Why not? There’s already at least two precedents: Tommy John surgery and the Mendoza line.
Guy is costing the Angels outs at a clip of 63%. and getting paid $38M/year. That’s a lot of money for outs. Currently the same clip as Mike Trout, who’s making about the same per year so I guess teams like paying guys to get out 60%+ of the time.
Arte has a history of doing this.
It’s not as if Rendon is doing this on purpose. He got HBP. So did Machado. So did Altuve. So did a lot of guys. It’s not as if Rendon purposely stuck his arm out as the pitch was coming. The guy is snakebit, but he’s not the only one. I realize the issue here for most posters is the $38m. How much of that is coming out of your pocket? Why do you care? The Angels signed Rendon after he led the majors in RBI, batted .313 and led the league in doubles. I don’t know about other posters, but I’d sign a guy like that. Rendon is a quality player both offensively and defensively. It’s too bad we may never get to see that again.
They should care when Moreno uses it as an excuse NOT to spend money.
In other words, Angels officials looked at Rendon’s past performance and figured he’d be at least as good for the next few years.
If Rendon had hit .202, drove in 30 runs and had just 5 extra base hits, is that when you’d sign him and hope he would hit over .300, have 71 extra base hits and lead the league in RBI? Whoever that guy is who signed him in that scenario, he’s gold.
You can knock Rendon for a lot of things, but getting on base isn’t one of them. He’s 14th in the AL in OBP among players with 150+ PA. The real problem is he has 0 power this year. His iso IS 6th worst among that same group, barely ahead of Myles Straw.
Unless I’m mistaken, getting out 60% of the time is equal to a .400 OBP, which most players would kill for…
Was gonna say, only getting out 60% of the time is typically one of the lowest rates in baseball.
@mlb1225
It’s between Above Average and Great. But for $38M/year, wouldn’t you want that number to be below 60%?
Can you name the guys that are getting out less than 40% of the time? There are only 6 with more than 250 PA, so it shouldn’t be hard even for you.
That pales in comparison to what the Mets are getting out of the $86 million paid to Scherzer and Verlander this season.
@rodcannon
100%, but I thought I’d keep it in house with the Angels.
I wonder if he got hurt attacking a fan
“Water is wet”
Actually, water is not wet. It is a liquid that makes other things wet.
Too bad. He was really hitting the ball well (.301) and walking a lot prior to the groin injury but struggled since his return. Hopefully he won’t be out long… I’d really like at least one full season from Rendon before his contract is up.
Agreed and adding that he was HBP and his defense has improved a little bit.
Easily wins the MLB Minimal Effort award. The smiles/chuckles as he jogs down to first on weak grounders, or after striking out with men in scoring position, or after making an error, are just icing on the cake. The Angels should simply DFA him now (or eat the salary and gift trade him to the A’s or Royals for a couple of fungo bats) and replace him with someone who is not only able to play, but will try their best every at bat, every game. Shouldn’t be too difficult to make that upgrade.
Trade him for Javy Baez.
He has a bruised wrist. Jeez. This guy is not ready for his forties or fifties…he’ll wake up and ask to be taken to the ER.
1 hr in 133 a bats seriously f this guy maybe the worst contact in angels History
Gary Matthews Jr
You say that, but the Angels have made some really bad FA acquisitions since Artie bought the team.
Ranking the worst signings in no specific order:
1. Albert Pujols
2. Josh Hamilton… Artie paid him to leave.
3. Vernon Wells
4. CJ Wilson
5. Noah Syndergaard..at least we got Moniak for him
6. Matt Harvey.. Thank God 1 season
6. Trevor Cahill.. Thank God 1 season
7. Gary Mathews Jr.
8..Justin Upton
9. Zach Kozart
IDK why people had a problem with CJ Wilson. He wasn’t the best, but doesn’t belong on a list like this. I’d move Cozart & Matthews up the list and absolutely add Joe Blanton. Wells was a trade if I remember, but one of the stupidest trades in Angel franchise history…that set the franchise back a ways
I would probably put Thor at the bottom of your list. He was actually pretty decent for us last season and had a sub 4 ERA. Plus we did get Moniak for him at the trade deadline. Better acquisition than Cahill, Harvey, or Teheran.
@Paolo1900 – I agree, he does not belong on this list. He’s probably been one of the best free agent SP signings over the past decade.
I would replace him with Tyler Anderson but he’s still got another 2 years left on his contract but it’s already looking like a terrible signing. They would have been better off using that money on somebody like Eovaldi. But that’s typical Angels for ya – give a 3 yr deal to a guy who’s only had one good season in 7 years.
Rendon goes on the IL, and the world is now back to normal.
With Rendon and Moncada on the IL, “the world is now back to normal.”
Was just listening to one of my fave Zep tunes , “How Many More Times “ then came here and saw Angels place Rendon on IL. Had to chuckle
Or it could have been “The Song Remains the Same”.
This dude needs to be DFAd. Just eat the money and move on. Glass Tony is a lazy grifter and a turd of a human (see his game 1 response to A’s fan). He can’t even handle true criticism… The fan was right, he is a Bi**h.
.maybe the A’s fan was a turd of a human. You don’t get to start a fight with a player no matter how many tickets you bought.
Turd of a human because he’s hurt makes u seem like a turd of a human
Well we found the president of the Glass Tony fan club. He’s still a turd and you are the corn for sticking up for him
Art Moreno come on down. 40 Million dollars annual, oh my God. His is the first name on Swindler’s list. Ted Lerner’s list that is, and he also stung the Tigers when Zimmerman left there as well. He has a knack for letting players go, only for them to be a disaster for the new buyers of them.
Upvote for “Swindler’s List” …genius!
Biggest DOG in all MLB!
Anything remotely possible he can use as an excuse to not only say he’s hurt, but needs to go on the IL for has no limits.
Worst contract in baseball, and one day ownership will accept the fact he doesn’t want to play, write his contract off as a loss and cut him.
And I think we’d all be shocked at how minimal teams signing him for the minimum would be considering what a clubhouse cancer he is and is known for.
Waste of talent. No heart.
Silly political arguments aside in this thread, I agree with what many of you are saying about Rendon. He openly discussed not really wanting to play anymore or even being very interested in in baseball at all, before the Angels gave him that ridiculous contract (which is just as much on them as it is Rendon). The reason he got so angry at that fan this year is because the fan was right, and on some level I think Rendon knew it. He wants the money without actually having to do his job, which most normal people would be fired for. It’s painfully obvious how disinterested he is at this point. He’s a jerk.
Sucks this contract has turned so bad. He was such a good player with the Nats.
this guy has been playing the 2020 season for the past 4 years
I will trade you Rendon for Mike Paxton and an MRI tech and physician to be named later.
Rendone
Hadn’t seen that one before.
you haven’t seen a W..S. either.
Redundant sarcasm and redundant losing mix it together and you get an Angels fan.
Can’t decide if this contract, the Pujols, or Hamilton contract is the worst.
Just a dumb team all around. They’ve completely wasted the Trout and Ohtani years. They’re right up there with the Rockies, Reds, As and Cardinals in terms of front office disasters.
Because smart teams predict games-lost-to-HBPs better?
if you’re getting hit every 20PA you’re probably crowding the plate too much, or just not trying to get out of the way of an errant pitch. both of which are true about rendon.
Rendon is not even particularly high on the list of HBP. Maybe its time you learn a little about baseball.
He has been hit one in every 20 AB’s this year. He has been crowding the plate and leaning into pitches.
It’s pretty hard to be high on a list of HBP when you are out half the year.
He doesn’t want to be playing and is taking the easy way to the IL.
Maybe you should learn a little about baseball?
Here comes The Messiah Daniel Murphy!
I know he hasn’t been healthy, but it’s still surprising Rendon only has 1 HR in 100+ PAs.
Also, Tim Anderson has zero HRs in 200+ PAs.
7 years 245 million dollars and can’t stay on the field lol. What a total waste of resources this guy is.
All I can say is:
Eovoldi should be immediately be suspended by MLB for injuring a batter with a pitched ball. He should remain suspended until such time that Rendon is able to resume baseball activities at the MLB level at his normal level of capabilities.
It is time for justice for the teams that are victimized by the loss of players due to being hit by a pitched ball.
The Angels lose the services of a starting infielder.
What loss to the Rangers suffer??
Saying, “OOPS – S-O-R-R-Y, Well, it’s just part of the game”.
Just does not go far enough !!
Whether the pitch that injured the batter was or was not intentional does not matter.
A pitched ball struck a batter and resulted in that player being injured and unavailable to play for his team.
Meanwhile, the pitcher, a member of the select few who reach the MLB and as such has the credentials of being at the top of his profession, threw a pitch that resulted in a lost time injury to the batter and the batter’s team.
What penalty is imposed by MLB on the pitcher and he team he plays for?
N-O-T-H-I-N-G !!
Time for this inequity and lunacy to end and for MLB to take action !!
AND
There are far too many instances of batters being hit by pitched balls.
Any comparative stats on this??
EVERY TIME a batter is hit by a pitch, there is a potential for lost time due to injury..
MLB needs to stop sitting on their hands on this issue and take action.
Better, more controllable surface on baseballs.
Substance for pitchers for better grip on baseballs.
Eliminate the obliteration of batter’s box lines by batters.
Re-position, revise the orientation of the batter’s box.
Players are being hurt unnecessarily..
DO SOMETHING before a player’s career is ended.
“Time for this inequity and lunacy to end and for MLB to take action !!”
In the name of equity, if a pitcher gets hurt throwing a pitch, that hitter should be suspended until the pitcher is healthy.
What’s the actual baseball’s punishment being that it’s an accessory? And let’s not let those bases get away easy with jamming fingers and spraining ankles and knees. I’ve got my gasoline cannister ready for the dirt and grass.
Do you really think forcing the call up of a lesser pitcher, who is more likely to hit someone, is really the answer? Aren’t there already enough pitchers out of action as it is?
Jacksson always posts this diatribe on the HBP articles… and it never gets less crazy.
Gotta stay committed to the bit.
Jack – So, using your logic, when Matt Shoemaker was hit in the head by a comebacker by a Seattle batter in 2016, the batter should have been punished by MLB until Shoemaker came back from the injury the following season?
“He [Eovaldi] should remain suspended until such time that Rendon is able to resume baseball activities at the MLB level at his normal level” Rendon’s “normal level” of baseball activity is being on the IL, so your argument is finished right there.
What a bunch of hoooey all I can say Jackson is getting HBP is part of the game. The batter is as much at fault as the pitcher. Some batters lean into a pitch to hit the ball.
Guy cannot stay on the field, tough break for him and the Angels.
I guess there was just to much irony in this article even for the “wow” guy to post!
There are so many bums who have nothing else to do. Imagine yourself getting hit on your wrist cracking it! You’d be crying for 10 days!
Nine days here.
I’m tough.
The Angels have an entire starting IF on the IL.
all that money and nothing to show for!
Folks commenting trying to shame Rendon. The Angels offered him the contract and he signed it.
If they offer me a contract at league minimum the rest of the season, I will sign it and could give two sheets what y’all said about me in the article where MLBTRs announces my signing lol
He was offered a contract with the expectation that he would, you know, play and not just use every minor injury as an excuse to sit for weeks at a time. The guy is a complete bum and exhibit A of why fully guaranteed contracts are a bad idea.
You ever been hit in the wrist with a baseball traveling at 90+ mph?
Go down to your local batting cages, set it on the top setting, and then put your arm out in front of it. Afterwards come back and tell us how you are feeling.
Typically that fast setting is 70 mph.
My bet is you run home crying to your mama.
I’m sure it hurts like a son of a gun but not sure what that has to do with my post. Rendon has a lengthy history of hitting the IL with questionable injuries. I wasn’t saying this was one of those. He can’t help being hit by a pitch.
You WERE implying this was one of those. “he would, you know, play and not just use every minor injury as an excuse to sit for weeks at a time.”
It doesn’t just hurt like a son of a gun. Rendon has a bone bruise and cannot even grip the bat to swing.
Another waste of money one day they will get it right
Rendon has been a bit fragile since joining the Angels, but I’m not about to blame him for getting HBP.
Rendon is almost as good at being on the IL as he is at bullying other team’s fans…