The Los Angeles Angels find themselves in a tight spot with Anthony Rendon's substantial contract, which has become a burden after six challenging seasons. With recent hip surgery sidelining him for likely the entire 2025 season, Rendon's reliability has been further called into question. Since signing his seven-year, $245 million contract in 2020, his performance has sharply declined, hitting only .242 with a .717 OPS for the Angels compared to his impressive .290 average and .859 OPS during his time with the Washington Nationals.

Moreover, the Angels' management, led by owner Arte Moreno, neglected to secure injury insurance on Rendon, a decision pointed out by Ken Rosenthal as a major oversight given the size of his contract. Had they invested in insurance, they could have potentially saved around $50 million during his recovery. Looking ahead, the Angels have brought in Yoán Moncada to cover third base, further indicating their waning faith in Rendon's ability to contribute.