As his meeting with reporters was about to end following a Washington Nationals training workout, third baseman Anthony Rendon answered another question about his pending free agency at the end of the season:
“Everyone has the misconception that we work for (agent) Scott (Boras),” Rendon said. “That’s not the way it works. You can ask him. We’ve gotten into some jibber-jabbers before.”
And with that, Rendon crushed the Sports Illustrated cover boy and the Nationals’ free agent spectacle from last spring, Bryce Harper. Harper, also a Boras client, walked into a press conference a year ago here and declared to the media if they asked one question about his contract or his future free agency, he would walk out.
The Minister of Fun was a silent grump all last year. Now he appears to be a memory in the Nationals’ clubhouse. What does Harper’s absence mean for Rendon? A clearer path to his spring training locker.
“We were over there in the corner and [reporters] were definitely over there a lot more when he was there. I can definitely get to my locker now,” Rendon said.
“I don’t know. We’re used to it. Guys come and go on this team so much. Obviously he was a big presence on this team for the last six years, but there is nothing you can do.”
Now it appears Rendon will be the big presence this year — in part because of his value on the field and at the plate, and in part because, like Harper was last year, Rendon is a valuable Washington National (a former Silver Slugger winner coming off a year with 44 doubles, 24 home runs, 92 RBI and a .308 batting average) who may be on his way out.
This sequel will be different, though. Rendon, 28, is no more at ease with the media attention — he would rather chew broken glass than do a press conference — than Harper, but there were no threats to walk out. There was a recognition of responsibility.
“You guys know my mentality, my personality,” he said when asked about contract talks. “Take it one day at a time, whatever happens, happens.”
What really can’t happen, though, is Washington letting a high-profile free agent leave town for the second straight season — if Harper is gone. Reports were still out there at press time that Harper remained unsigned and that the Nationals — who offered Harper a $300 million contract before free agency began — are reportedly still in play.
A massive contract for Harper lengthens the odds for a long-term deal with Rendon. Just as it would be difficult to let both leave, it would be tough to sign both.
Rendon confirmed that talks are ongoing.
“We’ve talked about it the last year or so, if both sides can be happy, we’ll see, if not, we’ll see what happens,” he said.
A first-round draft choice in 2011, Rendon is now in his sixth season and is one of the Nationals’ leaders. He recognizes the responsibility that comes along with that duty and will be ready to hold teammates accountable. “We’re obviously not going to do it in front of you guys or blatantly do it, like (former Nationals reliever Jonathan) Papelbon and Bryce,” Rendon said. “We’re not going to have one of those episodes. But we will pull each other aside and talk about it. It’s between us. Our team.”
How great is it that he used the time Papelbon choked Harper in the dugout, with the world watching, as an example of holding teammates accountable?
Anthony Rendon is most definitely not Bryce Harper.
Asked if he was concerned about being a free agent next winter, given the volatility of what Harper and Manny Machado and others have gone through, Rendon didn’t really answer the question.
Instead, he gave an Anthony Rendon mission statement.
“My identity is not in baseball,” he said. “If this game is taken away from me anytime, I’ll be fine. I’ve got a happy life. I will play it as long as I can. But this game doesn’t define who I am.”
• Hear Thom Loverro on 106.7 The Fan Wednesday afternoons and Saturday and Sunday mornings and on the Kevin Sheehan Show podcast every Tuesday and Thursday.
• Thom Loverro can be reached at tloverro@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.