Anthony Rendon’s latest feedback have drawn the ire of many MLB followers and media personnel. Now, one in every of his outdated teammates is becoming a member of in on the general public bashing.
On Monday, Rendon admitted to reporters that baseball has “by no means been a high precedence for me.”
“This can be a job. I do that to make a residing,” Rendon mentioned, per ESPN. “My religion, my household come first earlier than this job. So if these issues come earlier than it, I am leaving.”
These remarks did not sit proper with former All-Star nearer Jonathan Papelbon, who was teammates with Rendon for 1.5 seasons on the Nationals from 2015-16.
“Each single day this man reveals as much as exit, it was like a chore,” Papelbon mentioned of Rendon’s time in Washington on the “Foul Territory” podcast. “He strictly bought away with simply uncooked athleticism and simply uncooked expertise. And you are able to do that … however there’s a purpose why he’s not as profitable as he actually, really could possibly be. He’s bought extra uncooked expertise than the three of us mixed, however he simply doesn’t give a s–.”
Whereas taking part in for the Nationals from 2013-19, Rendon was one of many MLB’s premier third basemen. He slashed .290/.369/.490 over 916 video games with Washington and obtained MVP votes in 4 totally different seasons — ending as excessive as third within the 2019 NL MVP race.
Because of his robust play, Rendon earned himself a monster deal courtesy of the Angels. Los Angeles signed the nook infielder to a seven-year, $245 million contract — a deal that Papelbon knew again in 2019 was a nasty transfer.
“I knew that when he grew to become a free agent … I used to be like, ‘whoever will get that dude goes to get completely bamboozled; it’s going to be the worst deal in historical past,'” Papelbon mentioned. “And it’s confirmed that manner.”
Rendon has didn’t even come near replicating the success he had in Washington with the Angels. A myriad of accidents have sidelined him for almost all of the final three years, with the 33-year-old failing to succeed in 60 video games in any season.
Over a career-low 43 contests in 2023, he boasted a meager .236/.361/.318 slash line.
Although Rendon nonetheless has three years remaining on his contract, Papelbon argued the Angels ought to look to chop ties properly earlier than 2026.
“I’ll be sincere with you, if I’m the Angels GM, I’m making an attempt to eliminate this dude as quick as I can,” Papelbon mentioned.
