What does the future hold for Washington Nationals’ Anthony Rendon? Not a free agency story...

Davey Martinez might want to check with Anthony Rendon before he starts planning the next decade of the Washington Nationals’ infielder’s career.

Martinez was asked on Wednesday if the 29-year-old infielder would make a good hitting coach one day or if he’s such a natural hitter that it would be hard for him to coach others?

[ed. note - “What? It’s the World Series, there are two press conferences with the manager every day, so some odd questions get asked.”]

“I think Rendon has about ten more years to play before he has to decide whether he’s going to be a hitting coach or not,” Martinez said.

“I definitely would -- if he did decide, if I had a chance to come back, I’d definitely be in his school.”

As for the “ten more years” part of that answer?

Rendon was asked, after Game 3 of the NLCS, about how Howie Kendrick keeps doing what he’s doing this season, as a 36-year-old, and where he pictures himself at that age.

“He stays short,” Rendon said, in explaining Kendrick’s approach. “He’s strong. So if he puts that barrel to it and stays behind the ball, you see it. He does damage. So he knows how to hit. That’s what he does.”

And the second part of the question: Where does Rendon see himself at 36?

“Hopefully not playing baseball,” Rendon said with a laugh. “Probably sitting on the couch hanging out with my kids. [Kendrick is] probably going to play another 20 years.”

Rendon, of course, is headed for free agency this winter, unless he and the Nationals agree on a late-in-the-game extension, so he might not be in Washington for the next decade, but wherever he is, his fast hands, plate discipline, and ability to barrel it up will serve him well, and his manager for the last two years said wherever he’s playing next season, either with the Nationals or a new team, someone will have a great player, and a better person in their lineup.

“He’s a very humble guy, very -- one thing that I don’t know if people realize, he’s very competitive in his own way,” Martinez explained.

Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto have our vote:

LINK: Rendon and Soto ‘19 Stay in the Fight t-shirt from Breaking T

“He’s very laid back. Another guy that doesn’t really have much of a heartbeat. But he’s very intense.

“And when he doesn’t feel like he’s doing well, he’s not very happy. And he always wants to do well.

“One thing I’ve learned from him, that he’s a constant professional, wants to play every day, does whatever he can that helps his team win.”

Rendon helped his team out to a 2-0 lead with a two-run double off Houston Astros’ starter Justin Verlander in the top of the first in Game 2 of the 2019 World Series last night, and he finished the night 1 for 4 with a walk and a K in the Nationals’ 12-3 win.

So... just thinking, if Rendon doesn’t see himself playing at 36, that means he can be signed for less than a 7-year deal? So like 5-6 years at a high AAV?