Rays and Austin Meadows Reportedly Discussing Contract Extension
The Tampa Bay Rays are always looking for ways to improve without making major financial investments. They did exactly that when they offloaded Chris Archer to the Pirates in exchange for Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows, both of whom have flourished since arriving in Tampa.
Well, it may be time to open up the wallet for the Rays, as the team has reportedly entered contract negotiations with Meadows following his breakout 2019 season.
Some #Rays news: Team has initiated discussions with All-Star OF Austin Meadows on a long-term extension, and he is open to it and eager to "see where it goes.’’https://t.co/shVz7Cx3hn
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) March 8, 2020
Meadows is 24 years old and is still in the pre-arbitration phase of his career. He is already under team control through 2024 and the Rays can give him some more guaranteed money now in exchange for not paying him a fortune in his arbitration years if he continues at his current pace.
Hello, old friend.
— Rob Biertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) March 5, 2020
Austin Meadows crushes a solo homer to right field on Derek Holland's first pitch of the game. Rays 1, Pirates nil in B1
In 2019, Meadows slashed .291/.364/558 with a career-high 33 home runs and 89 RBI, posting a 3.8 WAR in his first full year with the Rays.
Meadows can earn tens of millions of dollars in guaranteed money and the Rays can limit his potential earnings with a deal right now, one that would enable the small-market club to keep its key offensive star, while also rewarding the youngster early on in his career.