Washington Nationals: Anthony Rendon looking for Jose Altuve money

Anthony Rendon is set to be a free agent after this season. If the Washington Nationals are looking to keep him around, Rendon knows exactly what type of deal he is looking for.

The Washington Nationals, to some degree, are at a bit of a crossroads in regards to their roster. Bryce Harper has drawn a great deal of attention due to his free agency, and with good reason – he is one of the bigger stars in the game. Yet, as the Nationals have added to their rotation with Patrick Corbin and added Brian Dozier to play second, they have another impending free agent to be concerned with.

Third baseman Anthony Rendon may not garner a great deal of attention, but he is a key part of the National lineup. Since his breakout 2016 campaign, Rendon has established himself as a star in Washington, an excellent defensive third baseman with power and decent speed. As Rendon would be turning 29 years old halfway through the upcoming season, it is understandable that he would be the type of player that teams would be interested in during free agency.

Likewise, it would be understandable that the Nationals would be interested in retaining Rendon’s services. If they do, their third baseman has a contract in mind. According to Ken Rosenthal (subscription required), Rendon is looking at Jose Altuve‘s extension with the Astros – a seven year, $163.5 million deal, as comparable to what he is after.

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Given Rendon’s production over the past three years, one can see where he would desire to be paid at a level comparable to Altuve. While not quite in that category, Rendon is averaging a .292/.374504 batting line, with 41 doubles, 23 homers, and 92 RBI over the past three years. Defensively, he has been one of the best in the National League at the hot corner, saving 39 runs and leading the league in fielding percentage in all three seasons.

Obviously, Rendon’s potential extension will have to wait. Harper is still unsigned, and Scott Boras did meet directly with ownership a few days ago. Whether or not Harper does return to Washington will have a major impact upon the Nationals moves going forward.

Should Harper head elsewhere, Rendon would make sense as their biggest priority. He would not cost nearly as much to retain, but would be another key piece in a strong nationals lineup. Otherwise, they may be trying unsuccessfully to fill that void, as Rendon has become one of the top third basemen in the league.

Anthony Rendon is looking at Jose Altuve’s extension as something similar to what he desires from the Washington Nationals. If they miss out on Bryce Harper, that extension may be the right move to make.