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MLB Free Agency Rumors: Dodgers, Rangers Considered ‘Favorites’ For Anthony Rendon After Stephen Strasburg

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Thomas B. Shea/USA TODAY Sports

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:

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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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