Dodgers Team News

Dodgers News: LA Reportedly Met with Free Agent Anthony Rendon

The Dodgers are among the teams who have met with free-agent third baseman Anthony Rendon, who executives believe could be the first big-name free-agent to sign, according to Buster Olney.

Here’s the excerpt:

Some high-ranking club executives believe that third baseman Anthony Rendon will be the first of the mega-dollar free agents to come off the board this winter. Rendon has already had meetings with teams, including the Dodgers and Rangers, and before Rendon reached the open market, Washington made an offer in an effort to keep him.

This off-season, the Dodgers have been connected to Rendon almost constantly.

As Olney points out, it has been reported that Rendon is looking to sign a deal for around five years because he doesn’t want to play into his late 30’s.

Rather than look for a long-term deal that lasts into his late 30s, [Rendon’s friends] think he’s more interested in a deal in the range of five years, presumably for a higher average annual salary.

Rendon’s preference for a short-term deal makes him a logical choice for the Dodgers, who shy away from long-term deals. They are reportedly looking to acquire a third baseman so they can move Justin Turner to first base to improve the defense and help keep him healthy.

The Dodgers have coveted Rendon because of his perfect fit with their hitting approach and their financial strategy. Under baseball operations chief Andrew Friedman, they have shied away from doling out deals of more than three-to-five years. Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner has one more year left on his contract, but he has told reporters that he’d be willing to change position. Turner, like Max Muncy and so many other Dodgers, could move to different spots on the field according to the needs of the day.

Rendon, 29, has been considered one of the most underrated players in baseball until his MVP caliber 2019 season where he hit .319/.412/.598 with 34 home runs, a 154 wRC+, and 7 wins above replacement.

He is a career .290/.369/.490 hitter to go along with a 128 wRC+. Adding Rendon to the lineup would be a major offensive and defensive boost for any team that signs him.

It was previously reported by Jeff Passan that Andrew Friedman loves Rendon more than any free agent who has been available in his Dodgers’ tenure.

It would appear there is a good chance Rendon is playing his home games in Los Angeles next season.

Blake Williams

I graduated with an Associate's Degree in Journalism from Los Angeles Pierce College and now I'm working towards my Bachelor's at Cal State University, Northridge. I'm currently the managing editor for the Roundup News and a writer for Dodgers Nation. Around the age of 12, I fell in love with baseball and in high school, I realized my best path to working in baseball was as a writer, so that's the path I followed. I also like to bring an analytics viewpoint to my work and I'm always willing to help someone understand them since so many people have done the same for me. Thanks for reading!

17 Comments

  1. So, checklist… Strasburg, Rendon…Now just need to put Cole on the list so Friedman can say to the ownership group that he TRIED….

  2. Rendon probably got Dodgers to buy him lunch. And, that’s all he’s going to get from them!

        1. OH that is very true, Dodger106W. Infact one writer here said how Freidman was not happy at all with how his LH hitter heavy lineup did in the NLDS. If Rendon miraculously is signed by Dodgers, then a LH batter or 2 need to be moved.

  3. I figure Strasburg will sign with the Padres since all his ties are from there, and the Dodgers wouldn’t offer enough to hook him. I figure Rendon will either sign with the Giants or the Rangers. Giants always get premium free agents at the height of their careers, and pay BIG contracts. Rangers can offer the most because of taxes in Texas, and once again the Dodgers won’t go long term and big money. I figure Cole will sign with the Angels because once again the Dodgers won’t be willing to out pay the Angels, plus they just hired Maddon. Not a hard choice to choose between He and Roberts. You are correct as well Paul.

    1. Gotta believe Rendon is still a long shot. Too much money, even with the short contract. But he would be a one man game changer. Also a stand up guy. If they got him, easily the best hitting infield in baseball, with vastly improved defense. Spending the big bucks for a guy that is better than Machado, Harper, or anyone else for that matter, while keeping young talent at home is more than enticing. Still like Lindor at short, Seager to third, Turner to first, and Muncy to second. But who could argue against Rendon?

  4. “Rendon, 29, … his MVP caliber 2019 season where he hit .319/.412/.598 with 34 home runs, a 154 wRC+, and 7 wins above replacement.
    He is a career .290/.369/.490 hitter to go along with a 128 wRC+. ”

    Yeah, we know, Blake Williams, no need to repeat baseball stats everyone can look up from the internet, that’s just poor journalism. You of all people should know

    1. The point here is to help or even educate people that might not have time to study other player’s stats or troll websites with pointlessly rude commentary. Thanks for stopping by, chief.

  5. Need Straburge, Cole , and Rendon to
    the point to win a championship trade Kershaw,
    Jansen, and Ryu cannot waste another year
    of Championship we should of had already
    won!! To the point of success amigos.

  6. I’ve said this time and time again, the Dodgers will never win a championship as long as Roberts is the manager.

  7. We Dodger fans are tired of seconditus , this is the ideal year to go out and sign a Gerrit Cole and Blake Treinen and trade for Lindor . It’s put up or shut up time for THE most lucrative team in sports. Financial constraint is fine if you are a World Series champion and not constantly runner up. This is the best financial position the Dodgers have been in for some time. Stop half stepping do what it takes to show your loyal fans you want to win and not just save money for the owners!

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