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MLB Free Agency Rumors: Dodgers ‘Pessimistic’ Over Odds To Sign Anthony Rendon

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY Sports

Heading into the offseason the Los Angeles Dodgers were pegged by many to be among the teams expected to pursue Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg. Indications are they met with each of the three, but only Rendon remains available.

Strasburg was the first domino to fall, agreeing to a record-breaking seven-year contract with the Washington Nationals on the first day of the Winter Meetings. Cole then was next, breaking the records Strasburg secured with his nine-year, $324 million deal with the New York Yankees.

All the while the Dodgers have been identified as one of the favorites to sign Rendon. However, in the immediate aftermath of Cole and the Yankees agreeing to a contract, the Dodgers’ focus reportedly shifted to Madison Bumgarner.

As Rendon continues to mull over his offers, the Dodgers may no longer be part of the equation, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:

At the outset of free agency Rendon appeared the most likely to land with the Dodgers in large part due to a perceived willingness he would be open to signing a short-term contract. However, that’s been dispelled with Scott Boras seeking seven-year deals for Rendon.

The L.A. Angels’ involvement has seemingly picked up as they too were among the teams that missed out on Cole. Meanwhile, Strasburg is attempting to recruit the third baseman back to the Nationals, even if his deal would include deferred salary.

The 29-year-old is coming off a career season in which he hit .319/.412/.598 with 44 doubles, 34 home runs and 126 RBI over 146 games. He carried that success into the postseason as the Nationals went on to win their first World Series.

Rendon earned a first All-Star Game selection, won a Silver Slugger Award and finished third in MVP voting.

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com