Washington Nationals: Time to make Anthony Rendon happy
With a deal in place for 2018, the time has come for the Washington Nationals to extend Anthony Rendon. His value to the team demands it.
The Washington Nationals gave us a few tense moments Friday afternoon when it appeared they failed to settle on a deal with Anthony Rendon. No worries. They did.
Along with Rendon, Washington had until one in the afternoon to re-sign Michael Taylor and Tanner Roark to avoid an arbitration hearing. This was Taylor’s first year and Roark’s second.
A client of Scott Boras, all sides want to get a multi-year contract done for Rendon that will carry him past his first year of free agency. As with Roark, Rendon has two years left of team control.
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It is stunning to believe in this day and age that a player of Rendon’s talents can fly under the radar.
An excellent third baseman, he does not get the attention of Manny Machado, Nolan Arenado or Kris Bryant. A steady offensive contributor, he drove in 100 in 2017, Rendon takes a back seat to Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman and Daniel Murphy. Its as if we take him for granted.
The Nats know better. Rendon’s $12.3 million contract for this year is proof. Harper, with the 2015 National League MVP in his pocket, made $13.625 in his second arbitration year last season. Fair to say Washington understands Rendon’s importance.
In case you forgot, he slashed .301/.403/.533 for a .937 OPS. That adjusts to a healthy 140. Forty percent above average should get your face plastered on buses and billboards. Rendon wears tee shirts with Trea Turner’s visage on the front. Somehow lost in the 41 doubles and 25 home runs was the sixth-place finish in the MVP vote.
Do not forget the 13 Total Runs saved or the 1.0 d-WAR either. Although Rendon is not the same defensively as Arenado, he is close. The total package.
Although Rendon shuns the spotlight, perhaps the easiest going superstar in sports, he deserves the pay level earned by the top 20 in baseball. His ability to grind out at bats, drawing more walks than strikeouts in 2017, drives opposition pitchers crazy.
With Jayson Werth likely headed elsewhere, Rendon’s ability to work counts and reach base takes a deeper meaning this year. His success is vital if Washington hopes to make a deep October run.
Even with Boras as his agent, you can expect a deal within the next two years done quietly. As with Stephen Strasburg, having a super-agent does not mean hitting free agency. Instead, Boras represents insurance. Rendon is mellow, but not stupid.
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Rendon is not one to toot his own horn, so we will. Six years for $150 million should do it. In this market, $25 million a season is not overpaying. Especially, a borderline legend.