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From 2012-2018, nobody in Washington D.C. commanded attention quite like Bryce Harper. From making his MLB debut as a teenager to being the third-youngest MVP ever to winning the Home Run Derby in front of the home fans, Harper's superstardom was unparalleled.
Yet despite the MVP win and the incredible marketability Harper possessed, he was not even the best player on his own team during his time with the Nationals. No, that distinction belongs to Nats third baseman Anthony Rendon.
From 2014-18, Rendon posted a 24.7 fWAR, which was seventh in the league during that time period. In that same span, Harper posted a 22.1 fWAR, with 9.3 of that coming in his 2015 MVP season alone.
And yet, while Washington began initiating extension talks with Rendon this winter, the attention still swirled around Harper. He had rejected an initial 10-year, $300 million contract from GM Mike Rizzo and co., but there was still hope from the Washington fan base that returning to D.C. would make the most sense.
When Harper signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, fans chastised him upon his return. It was inevitably going to happen, but it also seemed to undermine the notion that the Nationals have a great chance to be even better without Harper this season. And Rendon is one of the biggest reasons why.
Time for baseball to start paying attention to Anthony Rendon.
He can do it all
In four full seasons as the starting third baseman (not counting 2015, when Rnedon played in just 80 games due to injury), Rendon has averaged over 22 homers and 90 RBIs while hitting over .300 with an OPS over .900 in each of the last two seasons. Rendon hits to all fields with power, and he hardly ever strikes out.
Rendon is also a tremendous defender. Despite registering -6 Defensive Runs Saved at the hot corner last season, he still managed a 5.9 Ultimate Zone Rating. And in the two years prior, Rendon saved a combined 15 runs while posting a 20.1 combined UZR.
His consistency at the dish and in the field has made him one of the most valuable commodities in baseball. Although Nolan Arenado and Kris Bryant are higher profile third basemen in the National League, the case can easily be made that Rendon is better than both of them.
Rendon feasted on opposing pitching regardless of ballpark, and was actually better against right-handed pitching than against lefties. Even though he does not draw a ton of walks, he is a nightmare to pitch to with two strikes, and he can spray the ball from gap to gap.
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Contract year
Although Rendon and the Nationals had extension talks prior to Spring Training and the start of the regular season, a deal has yet to be completed.
The 28-year-old is set to be a free agent after this season, but he is far and away the most important player to Washington's future going forward. And, perhaps more notably, he may now be the most coveted player on the market.
With Arenado, Chris Sale, Paul Goldschmidt and Justin Verlander signing extensions with their respective clubs, Rendon has suddenly become the headliner of next year's free agent class. Typically, players that are in a contract year perform at their peak in the hopes for earning big money.
And early on, Rendon is stating his case.
Before play began on Wednesday, Rendon was hitting a sterling .421 with a 1.384 OPS, four homers and 11 RBIs. He has already accumulated 1.0 fWAR (fourth in the MLB), and his 232 wRC+ ranks seventh.
Washington lost three of their first four and watched Trae Turner go down with a wrist injury early on, but Rendon has carried the load, leading the Nationals in every offensive category.
Sure, Harper has gotten off to a seething start in Philadelphia, but given the circumstances, all eyes should on Rendon in the nation's capital.
