Josh Donaldson is on the clock.
The player who hit 37 homers for the Braves last season is now the best free agent third baseman up for bidding after former Washington National Anthony Rendon reportedly agreed to a deal with the Los Angeles Angels late Wednesday night.
Rendon agreed to a $245 million, seven-year contract, the Associated Press reported, citing a person with direct knowledge of the deal. The AP said the person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced and was subject to a successful physical.
The Braves still hope to retain Donaldson but will be competing for his services with several suitors, including the Dodgers, Phillies, Nationals and Rangers.
Rendon is the third prized free agent to strike a big-money deal at this week's baseball winter meetings. He'll join three-time MVPs Mike Trout and Albert Pujols on a team that's made just one postseason appearance in the past decade.
The Angels had missed out on free agent right-hander Gerrit Cole, who agreed to a record $324 million, nine-year contract with the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, according to multiple reports.
“With our flexibility, if we miss a big player, there’s still very talented players that are accessible in the free agent and trade market right now," Angels general manager Billy Eppler said earlier Wednesday.
Rendon, who has played all seven of his major league seasons with Washington, drove in a career-best 126 runs while helping the Nationals capture the franchise's first World Series championship this year. His 19.9 Wins Above Replacement, per Fangraphs, over the past four seasons trails only Trout, Boston's Mookie Betts and Milwaukee's Christian Yelich among position players.
It marks the fourth big free-agent deal of the offseason pulled off by agent Scott Boras. Infielder Mike Moustakas joined the Cincinnati Reds on a $64 million, four-year contract, then right-hander Stephen Strasburg reached a $245 million, seven-year contract Monday to stay with the Nationals before Cole's pending signing came together a day later.
