UPDATE (2:38 p.m.): Angels owner Arte Moreno reportedly "loves" Anthony Rendon.
ORIGINAL (12:17 p.m.): The Nationals aren’t expected to re-sign third baseman Anthony Rendon after they locked Stephen Strasburg into a seven-year, $245 million deal Monday, but their competition just got stiffer with the news that the Angels are interested in the two-time Silver Slugger.
The Angels’ main target appears to be Gerrit Cole but they could turn to Rendon if they’re outbid by a team like the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers. Rendon has also been connected to the Dodgers, Texas Rangers and Philadelphia Phillies and is reportedly interested in signing a seven-year deal.
Nationals President Mike Rizzo said at a press conference Monday that “there’s ways to fit players in” when speaking about Rendon. His comments refuted an earlier statement made by principal owner Mark Lerner to NBC Sports Washington, to whom he said the Nationals “can really only afford to have one” of Strasburg or Rendon.
It’d be a surprising move if the Nationals did bring Rendon back, but everything remains possible at this point.
MORE NATIONALS NEWS:
Sean Doolittle's wife, Eireann Dolan, eviscerated the Houston Astros on Twitter Saturday afternoon in the wake of MLB's findings that the Astros systematically stole signs throughout the 2017 season, pointing out in her tweets what the scandal did to the Astros' opponents throughout the league that season.
Dolan pointed out that a large number of pitchers were scrutinized for poor performances against the Astros during the 2017 season, asking what those numbers would have done to their future earnings - not to mention mental state.
In 2017, the Astros led Major League Baseball in hits (1581), runs (896), doubles (346), RBI (854) as well as team batting average (.282) during the 162-game season en route to winning the 2017 World Series.
Doolittle reacted to the news of MLB's findings on Thursday on Twitter, thanking those who came forward to bring the sign-stealing allegations to light. The Astros fired general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch last week and Carlos Beltran and Alex Cora lost their jobs with the Mets and Red Sox over the scandal.
Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports. Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream Capitals and Wizards games easily from your device.
MORE NATIONALS NEWS:
The Washington Nationals aren't tired of showing off their World Series success, and for good reason.
It's been a few months since the Nats won their first-ever title, but flaunting the Commissioner's Trophy simply never gets old.
General Manager Mike Rizzo showed off the silverware in College Park on Saturday during an intermission in the Maryland-Purdue college basketball game.
The crowd erupted in cheers and the band played "Baby Shark" to ring in the special occassion. It's always nice to see Terrapin fan favorite and SportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt in attendance there too.
In a bad week for baseball in the wake of widespread cheating allegations, it's a good sight to see the good parts of the game being celebrated.
Keep showing that thing off, Nationals!
Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports. Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream Capitals and Wizards games easily from your device.
MORE NATIONALS NEWS:
