Is a long-term extension imminent between the Washington Nationals and their first-time All-Star third basemen Anthony Rendon?
On Saturday night reports surfaced that Washington Nationals’ found owner Ted Lerner and other members of his family met with agent Scott Boras to discuss a possible extension for Anthony Rendon. Tweet via Mark Zuckerman of MASN.
Scott Boras was at Nationals Park today meeting with founding owner Ted Lerner and other members of the Lerner family, and a source said they are discussing a potential contract extension for Anthony Rendon. https://t.co/fWCA4g4diK
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) July 7, 2019
This is the first time this season that it has been officially reported that Boras and the Nationals’ ownership have met in person to discuss an extension. Now does this mean 100% Rendon will be signing a long-term deal soon, of course not, but it is progress in a situation that seemed to be a stalemate just a few weeks back.
Reports surfaced just a few weeks ago about the Nationals and Rendon “growing further apart” on a possible extension, but this face-to-face meeting all but puts those false rumors to rest.
Although he will not be going to Cleveland this week, Rendon was named a first-time All-Star this season and has been the Nationals’ most consistent offensive player. He is hitting for a line of .304/.386/.611 with 22 doubles, 20 home runs, and 62 runs batted in.
The All-Star is on pace to shatter his previous home run record of 25 in a season and has a great chance to be a 35 home run, 100 RBI guy by the end of the 2019 regular season.
Rendon has played in 75 of the Nationals 89 games in the 2019 season, and since 2016 has played in at least 135 games every year.
The All-Star break is a perfect time for the Nationals and Rendon to work on an extension, and something could possibly get done this week. Rendon has shown everything he can to the Nationals this season that he is a face of the franchise type player. He hits for power, high average, gets on base, is outstanding in the field, and is never an issue off the field.
Anthony Rendon and the Washington Nationals should be a marriage that lasts a long time. A long-term extension would greatly benefit both sides. Now we just have to sit back and see if they can get it done.