Washington Nationals legend Anthony Rendon is expected to retire

Anthony Rendon’s disastrous Angels tenure is finally over. Reports have come out that Rendon and the Angels are in talks to buyout the final year of his 7-year $245 million contract. He was such a great player with the Nats, but things did not work in LA due to injuries and Rendon’s prickly attitude.

Unfortunately, this disastrous chapter in LA will make most people forget about how great Rendon was. However, Nationals fans will always remember Rendon fondly even while the rest of the baseball world chatters about his awful Angels contract.

After being drafted sixth overall in the loaded 2011 draft class, Rendon quickly made his way through the Minor Leagues. He made his debut in April of 2013 and immediately showed promise. After a solid rookie season, Rendon had a true breakout in 2014.

At just 24 years old, Rendon posted a 6.5 WAR season and finished 5th in NL MVP voting. Nats fans fell in love with his gap to gap power and chill demeanor. He became affectionately known as Tony two bags for his ability to lace doubles. In fact, Rendon led the league in doubles in both 2018 and 2019.

From 2017 to 2019, Rendon was a top 10 player in baseball, posting three straight 5 win seasons, including two six win campaigns. He was such a well rounded player. Rendon could hit for contact, hit for power and played great defense at third base.

However, 2019 was the crowning season of his career. That year he finished third in MVP voting and just had ridiculous numbers. He hit .319 with a 1.010 OPS while hitting 34 homers, 44 doubles and drove in 126 runs. The craziest part of it all was how easy Anthony Rendon made it all look. It was just another day in the office for Tony two bags.

Of course, that mindset would get him into trouble later in his career, but in DC that was accepted. Baseball was always just a job to Rendon, but when he was with the Nats he was having fun at work. I remember during Spring Training one year I saw Rendon and Trea Turner just goofing around playing basketball one on one together. He was prickly with the Angels, but he never had any clubhouse problems with the Nats.

What truly cemented Rendon’s legacy in DC though was his 2019 playoff run. He was truly captain clutch for the Nats. Rendon just came through time and time again in clutch moments. He was just automatic and the stats prove it. His numbers after the 7th inning of the Nats elimination games were just stupid good.

His homers off of Clayton Kershaw in the NLDS and Zack Greinke in Game 7 of the World Series were what started the Nats rallies. Rendon’s walk against Josh Hader in the Wild Card game is one of the better at bats I have ever seen as well. He just casually took some great pitches from Hader and passed the baton.

I know it is not his style, but I really hope that Rendon signs one of those one day contracts with the Nats just for some closure on his career. Knowing him, Anthony Rendon will probably never be heard from again but it would be cool if he came back to DC.

Sure, Rendon made mistakes with the Angels and his personality rubbed people the wrong way. However, I still do not think that Rendon is a bad guy. He was more involved with the Nats foundation than anyone when he was on the team and always had friends on the team in DC.

He just seems like a misunderstood character who did not quite put his best foot forward in LA. Injuries also plagued him with the Angels and it took away the traits that made him special. The spotlight that his contract created was also something Rendon did not like. He just wanted to stay in the shadows and do his job.

The rest of the baseball world may hate Anthony Rendon, but DC will always love him. There is not a World Series title in DC without Anthony Rendon. He was the best player on the team that 2019 season and his efforts will always be remembered fondly here. Thank you Anthony Rendon and congratulations on a wonderful career.