By Lewis Gould
Have the Nationals learned the lesson of their failed attempt to retain Bryce Harper last season?
The Phillies snagged the free agent with a 13-year, $330 million deal after the Nats lollygagged for the entire offseason.
They’re not waiting around to do that with star third baseman Anthony Rendon.
According to the Post, in early September they made Rendon a seven-year contract offer in the range of $210 million and $215 million that “differs vastly from the 10-year, $300-million offer the Nationals made last September to outfielder Bryce Harper,” the difference being the Harper offer included approx. $100 million in deferred salary, with the final payment deferred until 2052.
Per the reported terms of the deal, the Nats’ offer is in the ballpark of the eight-year, $260 million deal the Colorado Rockies gave to third baseman Nolan Arenado. At one year less and a slightly lower average annual value, Rendon – if he were to accept the offer – would be paid between $30 million and $30.7 million per season. Arenado is earning an average annual value of $32.5 million.
Rendon has seldom spoken about free agency during the season, but in July hinted to 106.7 The Fan’s Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier that he was leaning toward testing his value on the open market:
“I mean, if you’re giving me the opportunity, and saying I’m this close from going to go car shopping, from multiple lots, instead of staying in one lot, I mean, what would you do?”
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