While the likes of Yasmani Grandal, Will Smith and Zack Wheeler had already agreed to contracts in this winter’s free agency, the first significant domino fell when Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals came to terms on a record contract.
The Nationals’ splash on the first day of the annual Winter Meetings is expected to accelerate the decision-making process for Gerrit Cole and invariably have an impact on Anthony Rendon as well.
Nationals owner Mark Lerner recently ruled out the possibility of re-signing both Rendon and Strasburg. His comments came prior to the Nationals handing Strasburg the richest contract and highest average annual value for a pitcher.
Meanwhile, the market for Rendon has largely been built on reported interest from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Nationals and to a lessor extent the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.
With Strasburg returning to the Nationals, the sense is the Dodgers and Rangers are the frontrunners to sign Rendon, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network:
Nats don’t seem confident on Anthony Rendon. Doesn’t mean he’s a goner but the same momentum for a deal isn’t there. Rangers, Dodgers seen as the favorites. Braves, Phillies also looking at 3B, tho probably shorter term.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 9, 2019
Although Strasburg earned MVP honors, Rendon himself played a key role in helping the Nationals win their first World Series. The 29-year-old additionally was a National League MVP finalist and is the top position player on the open market.
If Rendon were to sign with the Dodgers, it would provide the club with another right-handed bat to balance their lineup and shift Justin Turner over to first base.
As for the Rangers, they are moving into a new stadium next season and adding a player of Rendon’s caliber — who attended Rice University and is a Texas native — would be a boon as they look to compete in the American League West.
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