Now that is an interesting topic, which is the worst signing that Arte ever made. Rendon certainly would be one possibility, also Hamilton is probably the signing that would get my vote. Ugh.
IMO, the worst signing is Hamilton for several reasons. Back in the Hamilton FA era, signing a player of his caliber would cost a team their 1st round pick. Signing Hamilton cost the Angels their first round for 2013. In today's era, teams no longer lose a first round pick.
1. Owner Arte, not GM Dipoto, signed Pujols as a FA in 2011. That would cost the Angels their 2012 first round pick. But Arte came away with $3 billion for a 20-year contract with Fox Sports West with the signing of Pujols.
2. Signing Hambone cost the Angels their 2013 first round pick. That's two, consecutive first round picks lost due to owner Arte, which significantly impacts the collection of farm team talent. That means in Dipoto had only two 1st round picks in four drafts.
3. The Angels were lacking pitching talent in their system and at the MLB level.
4. GM Dipoto traded for starting Ace pitcher Greinke in-season to avoid costing the Angels their 2013 first round pick.
5. The Angels gave up a lot of talent to acquire Greinke, which included future all-star SS Jean Segura. All that talent traded away was wasted.
6. Greinke wanted $25 mil per year, but owner Arte wanted to give that $25 mil per year to slugger Hamilton.
Last year's TDL, the Angels should have traded away Ohtani and replenish the Angels' farm system. Owner Arte did not want to do it and also knew he would not try to retain Ohtani. That's pretty messed up of an owner who is unwilling to help his organization in order to looked good momentarily by not trading away Ohtani.
Then this year's TDL, the Angels could have added more talent. But I dunno who to blame, Arte or GM Minisian... especially after Minisian couldn't sign the 3rd round pick. WTF?!
Need a new owner and GM.