The Washington Nationals struck a deal with one of their best players on Friday, avoiding a potential arbitration hearing with third baseman Anthony Rendon on a one-year deal.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Rendon and the Nationals reached a settlement on a one-year, $18.8 million contract in Rendon’s final season before free agency.
Rendon gets $18.8 million from #Nats
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 12, 2019
The 28-year-old slashed .308/.374/.535 last season in Washington and posted 24 home runs with a .909 OPS across 136 games. It marked Rendon’s second consecutive seasons with 20-plus home runs, a .900-plus OPS and a .300-plus batting average.
Rendon will finish out the last year of his deal with the Nationals before becoming one of the top third baseman available in the 2019 free agency class. If he can maintain his consistent production, Rendon should find a large, multi-year deal on the open market.