Dodgers

Dodgers: ESPN’s Jeff Passan Believes Anthony Rendon Will Sign with LA

And…here…we…go. The Dodgers are entering one of the biggest off-seasons in franchise history and there are some huge names available that could completely alter the ‘complexion’ of the roster, as Andrew Friedman has already stated the team’s interest in doing so.

One of the biggest names available in free agency — perhaps the second biggest behind Gerrit Cole — is Nationals’ third baseman Anthony Rendon. Rendon has placed himself in the MVP conversation in 2019 and has quietly been one of the best players in the league over the last handful of seasons. His talent was put on display even further in last month’s World Series, when his Washington Nationals beat the Houston Astros in seven games.

Jeff Passan of ESPN, one of the most well-connected insiders in baseball, has reason to believe that Anthony Rendon is heading to Los Angeles to join the Dodgers. In fact, Passan believes that Rendon will sign a contract in the neighborhood of a five-year, $200 million deal to spend his days in LA.

Rendon was reportedly offered a seven-year, $210 million deal from the Nationals earlier this summer which he turned down recently. The truth is, he will make a lot more than that. There is a case to be made that Rendon deserves the money that Manny Machado and Bryce Harper got — and then some.

According to FanGraphs’ value estimation in dollars, Rendon has been worth $201.6 million in production over the last five seasons. He should cash at a fairly similar rate this offseason with a chance that the check comes from the Dodgers.

Rendon batted .312 this season and put up a fantastic 7.0 WAR and 154 wRC+. He also remains one of the game’s elite defensive third basemen at the age of 29. Should the Dodgers sign him to a five-year pact, they will likely be capitalizing on what could be his peak.

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