Kevin Kiermaier may be among the most obvious possible trade chips in the sport, though he isn’t the only Rays outfielder that may be available. According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Kiermaier and Austin Meadows are the “most likely to go in a trade” and Manuel Margot could “maybe” also be floated to other teams.
Since the Rays roster is in constant flux, it isn’t surprising that the club is at least open to discussing anyone short of Wander Franco. We examined Margot as a potential trade candidate last week, citing his appeal to other teams as a similar glove-first type of player to Kiermaier, except younger, less expensive, and with a less-checkered injury history. Meadows bring a different skillset to the table, plus more long-term control since he is controlled through the 2024 season via salary arbitration.
Meadows hit .234/.315/.458 with 27 home runs over 591 plate appearances in 2021, bouncing back from a rough 2020 season that saw him post only a .667 OPS over 152 PA. That 2020 campaign was hampered by both a case of COVID-19 during Summer Camp and then an oblique strain in late September, though Meadows was able to return for much of the Rays’ postseason run.
Despite the rebound year, however, Meadows’ 2021 numbers weren’t without some concerns. Quite a bit of his production was contained within a red-hot stretch from May 2 to June 6 that saw Meadows hit .275/.365/.625 with 10 home runs. In the 345 PA after that hot streak, however, Meadows was only a .224/.290/.406 hitter. The left-handed hitting Meadows had posted pretty good numbers against lefties over his career, but his 2021 splits saw him deliver just a .563 OPS in 189 PA against southpaws (as opposed to an .871 OPS in 351 PA against right-handed pitching).
Defensive shifts played a big part in these splits, as teams shifted 75% of the time against Meadows in 2021, a marked increase from the previous two seasons. The result was a .304 wOBA against the shift (with a .402 wOBA in normal defensive alignments). Meadows also made much less hard contact in 2021 than he did in the previous two seasons, with a 37.9% hard-hit ball rate that put him in only the 32nd percentile of all batters.
Meadows has been mostly utilized as a left fielder over the last two seasons, with mixed results depending on your metric of choice. Defensive Runs Saved (+2) and UZR/150 (+4.2) give him positive grades, while Outs Above Average puts Meadows at only a -1 for his 799 2/3 innings in left field. While not bad defensive numbers by any stretch, the Rays still gave Meadows a lot of DH time before Nelson Cruz was acquired prior to the trade deadline.
Dealing Meadows would be a very intriguing move for a Tampa Bay club that is no stranger to aggressive trades, even of players who seemed like building blocks in the recent past. It can be argued that Meadows still is or should be a building block, considering the power he brings to the table, his former top-prospect status with the Pirates, and his three years of team control.
The increasing price tag of those arbitration years, however, might also factor against Meadows’ longer-term future in Tampa. MLBTR’s Matt Swartz projects Meadows to earn $4.3MM in his first arb-eligible year, and barring any changes to the arbitration structure in the next CBA, traditional counting stats like home runs and RBIs may continue to play an outsized role in determining a player’s future salary. If the Rays feel they can get a more productive overall player into the mix now, they could opt to deal Meadows while he may still be able to command something close to a premium return.
With some more established veteran outfield bats available in free agency, Meadows stands an interesting alternative for teams that might not be willing to pay big money to sign a Nick Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber, or Michael Conforto. Meadows’ three years of control would put a different type of high price tag on his services, though an enterprising team could tempt the Rays with any number of offers. Whatever the move, Topkin figures a larger-profile trade is likelier to come closer to the start of Spring Training if the Rays can help it, since the team would like to avoid “the disruption” involved with trading an established member of the roster later in camp.
Outfield prospect Josh Lowe is ready for a larger role in 2022, able to step into the Rays’ outfield mix in the event that any of Meadows, Kiermaier, or Margot is traded. Replacing a left fielder is easier than replacing a premium defensive glove like Kiermaier or Margot, so Tampa Bay could also look elsewhere if it isn’t satisfied with an outfield mix of Randy Arozarena, Brett Phillips, Kiermaier, Margot, and Vidal Brujan. Topkin also reiterates that the Rays are hoping to find a right-handed hitter who can play first base, and if such player is also outfield-capable, that would only help the depth chart.
Dombrowski are you listening?
Stupid money? Where is it
The Rays should be “open to moving” so they can keep their players and loyal fans. This is the last thing they want to hear. Smh
Lol they have loyal fans. These comments make you people think you’re smart, it’s old and uneducated
Yankees fans love getting owned on the field by a team with ‘no fans’
Well, usually when you pay for something, you own it. Since the Yankees pay for the Rays entire roster out of their revenue, I’d say the Yankees literally own the Rays. So technically, it’s the Yankees beating the Yankees.
But the Rays are a successful team. Trading away young stars before they decline has worked well for them. What’s the problem with a plan that works? I’m sure their fans are happy with all the winning.
@SpendNuttinWinNuttin- the team you root for is like your name. I didn’t want to go there. But that’s for you, enjoy never winning and keep spending nuttin.
I also think the rays should move into a better place but you also have to consider that their model (develope prospect, bring them up, trade them for new prospects with 2 years of contract left, repeat) has made them pretty successful considering their payroll. Yeah that approach has limits but they still made the playoffs several times in a very tough division while other teams with similar payrolls except for the As have been very bad (pirates, marlins, orioles).
Yes, that approach is not pretty but over a decade they basically have been an 80-85 win team with outliers in both directions and the last couple years even better than that.
Sure, ideally you want long term faces of the franchise like david ortiz or derek jeter (they might actually have that with franco now) but I much prefer the rays model over just sucking most of the time and maybe sometimes being good for 2 years after 5 years of tanking.
That is also something to consider, the rays always trade 1 or 2 veterans for prospects which hurts the fans of course but they also have never fully tanked for 4 straight years like the orioles and many others did.
Since 2008 the rays have been under 70 wins once and twice under 80, every other season was better than that.
Agreed. The Rays haven’t been put into a situation where letting a player go would hurt the small attendance they do draw. They haven’t had a Mike Trout or Aaron Judge type of player. The closest they have had was Evan Longoria and they kept him way longer than most. They only traded him when he started to decline. Pitching seems to be where the Rays produce their superstars. Seeing as how even the best of pitchers seem to lose big chunks of their careers to injuries these days smart small market teams trade them before the big contract. Honestly, I think the Rays front office has earned their fans trust when it comes to trades. They don’t have huge contracts bloating the payroll, making the cost in taking the family to the park still affordable for an MLB team. Having lived in Florida for a few years if they were to move the team closer to the highway their attendance would probably double. They couldn’t have put that stadium in a worse place.
I agree Phillies should call, but the farm system is weak. My guess is rays ask for Saurez(LHP)
Luis Garcia, Zach Warren, Kent Emmanuel, and Rixon Wingrove
Shut up.
Insightful comment.
Meadows has 70 career home runs, giving him a shot at reaching 100 in 2022.
He also has 225 RBI; with regular playing time, he will likely get to 300 this season.
All three are poor. Being kind.
No surprise. Rays will trade anyone, even Franco. Most people will say they are cheap or can’t afford them. They are simply a smart ran team.
They’re cheap and smartly run.
Exactly. They had to get smart because they had to be cheap.
Yeah, but they have also gotten REALLY lucky in deals as well. All it will take is a couple of prospects not panning out as planned and the whole house of cards comes tumbling down for a half a decade or so.
It will take a lot more than a couple, they have waves of prospects.
Too bad they just can’t keep trading with the Pirates, right?
@hiflew I think you’re a little too dramatic there
Their luck is the residue of design.
I like it. I will steal it.
It does look like the Pirates have finally wised-up.
They’re a consistently competitive team backed by a resourceful front office, like a well-oiled machine without having two pennies to rub together. Consequently, goodbye Meads.
Poor to average defense for a LF with a OPS under 800. Rays should shop him. Phil’s or Brewer’s might be interested in what feels like a jolt in offense but I feel like his 2019 was an outlier.
Never thought I’d ever be on the same page as anyone named John Rocker but he’s been over valued his entire career. Reminds me of Benny in Boston. He’s now going to cost more each season when his best season may already be behind him. With another season like 21 and after this season, Tampa will consider waiving him to avoid paying his 23 arb determined salary. While he has talent, buyer beware.
I think the word you are looking for is neutral. He won’t hurt or overly help you playing defense in left. Certainly nothing about those numbers indicates poor performance. If you think that, you are truly splitting hairs.
Yea he only really had one great year
Either Meadows or Margot as Kiermaier can’t be. $5,000,000 Arbitration estimate for Margot will get many more suitors and with better returns. Meadows has $4,300,000 estimate. Josh Lowe and Vidal Brujan replace Meadows and Margot shifting Brandon Lowe to fill Meadows.
Returns for replaceable players are easier to negotiate than giving away a bloated contract, ask the Brewers about Bradley.
Or, this is the plan B if Kiermaier cannot be moved again.
Tampa’s obvious first choice is to deal Kiermaier even if they have to attach a prospect for another team to take his full $14M. If they can’t find a taker for KK then it’s a coin toss between dealing Meadows and Margot. Since their projected arbitration salaries are so close ($700K difference) it will probably come down to which player brings the better return back to the Rays. Lowe is definitely ready to make the jump to the big leagues so Tampa is probably looking for pitchers in return for one of their OFs or possibly the RH hitting first baseman they are looking for. All we know is one of the Tampa OFs is heading out the door. Classic Rays move.
Meadows will undoubtedly bring back more than Margot.
Dorothy, my guess is two go with Margot staying for his glove. Jbigz, I actually see Margot the much better return although neither will bring back anything special. More teams value a solid CF glove over a left fielder whose best year was with a juiced ball.
Dewey
Margot has 1 year of control. Meadows has 3. That right there says it all. I hear your argument if control was equal but it isn’t.
Meadows has name recognition but who’s buying based on 19 (juiced ball) and more recently? Again, another year like 21 and does it matter if he has more control?
He clubbed 27 hrs and the same amount of doubles last year that he did in ‘19. The difference was he didn’t hit a bunch of singles to go along with it.
It’s 2 extra years of control Dewey. You’re entitled to your opinion but unless the industry hates Meadows now then the man has more value. 1 v. 3. Were not talking about Corey Seager for 1 year v. Cavan Biggio for 3. These guys are currently a toss up in value.
@Dorothy_Mantooth- Yeah good luck trying to move Kiermaier with that contract, regardless of the prospect going back. That line-up will look look a lot less scary obviously if Meadows is traded.
Yeah, players who provide 2.5 fWAR and 3.4 bWAR are tough to move, especially when the financial commitment is only 1 year and current free agent prices per fWAR are $6.5MM for players with less than 2.0 fWAR and $8.5MM for players with more than 2.0 fWAR.
The Rays don’t play in Tampa nor are they called the “Tampa Rays.”
cgbeauchamp1958: And your point is???
@cgbeauchamp1958- who really cares? It’s definitely time for them to move though.
The problem for teams assessing Meadows is his potential outcome for 2022. It ranges from sub 2 WAR, which is pretty inexpensive to 3.5 (ZiPS) which makes him a great buy. Regardless of the prognosticator, the assumption is that a large portion of his PAs are at DH. (His OPS is irrelevant given the challenges of hitting at sea level in an enclosed stadium.)
Kimbrel and Mercedes for Meadows
Rays only take prospects and pre-arb players in trades.
Reports have Rays rumored to have interest in Kimbrel before he went to the southside. The White Sox don’t need Meadows as their outfield and DH spots are full. Mercedes is definitely a good idea for the Rays. It probably doesn’t happen with these three players.
It will NEVER happen. Kimbrel will make $16M in 2022 and is way out of the Raays payroll.
LOL… The White Sox can only dream they can get that kind of value for those two.
I wouldn’t mind Braves taking him for the right price
Him, Acuna, and Duvall would certainly be a very solid trio.
Beware of trades with the Rays…
No longer as big as factor YC as many teams now have a former Tampa executive in their front office
It takes a whole staff to identify and determine value or players. Not 1 guy
Not really. Teams are buying into the experience of being trained In the Rays’ philosophy.
@Yankee Clipper- Yes, I would definitely steer clear of that. The prospects you trade to the Rays will become instant stars.
Time for the annual Rays Padres trade
A swap of Meadows for MacKenzie Gore might make sense for both clubs.
Interestingly, even with the lockout the Rays roster payroll has stayed the same. Huh.
Meadows would look nice on the Mets. Could even see them taking KK to make the deal happen. KK would be a solid fill in and late game defensive sub/pinch hitter.
No thanks. Prospect cost would be high, and OF is already getting crowded – only guy they should even consider is Suzuki. Otherwise, pitching.
padam8 hours ago
Meadows would look nice on the Mets. Could even see them taking KK to make the deal happen.
================================
That’s a resounding ‘no’. Their OF is Nimmo, Mart & Canha, and Smith as the #4. They won’t spend almost $20M for a #5 & #6 OFs.
The Mets already paid big money for Starling Marte while also adding Mark Canha. Nimmo is set in the OF as well. DH will probably rotate thru Cano/Smith/Alonso. Why would the Mets give up prospects they don’t really have for bench players they don’t really need?
Apparently you have no idea what the Mets have done already.
This is no knock on Meadows, but he seems like he fits a completley different bill to when he was in the Pirates’ system. He showed some power, but was more of a contact-then-power kind of hitter (not saying he had no power with the Pirates, but was more of a .280 hitter with 18-23 HR kind of power). Now he’s more of a power-then-contact kind of hitter. Also, he was regarded as a solid defender in centerfield, but now is meh in left field.
Exactly right, which led some to believe that along with a kid like Glasnow, who struggled with control, the trade for Archer was a solid move
Hey, send him back to the Bucs. I think Meadows’ upside precluded him ever being traded (could say the same about Glasnow and Baz) and would love to see him back.
Send the Rays some infield prospects. Lord knows, the Pirates have enough of them
There’s a reason that baseball folk say that the last thing a hitter often develops is power … is because the last thing a hitter often develops is power. He had good tools and the Bucs ran out of patience, inviting the Rays to pounce. Awful trade. A firing offense kind of trade.
Exactly, but too many folks are overvaluing 220 hitting home run hitters as opposed to the value of a contact hitter with slightly less power.
I don’t know what happened either. I thought he was the heir apparent in CF then he kinda got fat and just became a DH. Sure takes some value away playing the majority there and he’s always banged up.
Losing Baz was the worst part of that deal.
Call Preller first thing.
Doomed franchise – terrible park, terrible location, and a team with an ever-changing roster. Thankfully we have Ulysses S. Manfred, a fearless leader for the ages, to guide this transition.
The doomed franchise? The best run team and annual post season contender with lots of minor league talent?
Franchise. Location. Dollars. Viability. The Rays have been the focus of potential relocation for years. Franchise. Location. Dollars. Empty seats. Terrible park. Terrible location.
Doomed. The Rays should move to Nashville where the team you rightly describe as an “annual post season contender” will be properly appreciated.
Let me guess you live near Nashville?
Well, SC, that depends on your personal understanding of the term “near.” If you consider a 29-hour car ride covering 1862 miles to be “near” then, yes, I am “near” Nashville.
As exciting as you are able the Rays moving, baseball makes nothing when a team moves while millions if expansion happens. Baseball isn’t allowing a team in one of the most rapidly expanding markets to leave. Not happening. Did the Mariners leave Seattle? Did the Giants leave SF? Did the White Sox leave Chicago? No. The Rays will figure it out.
Doomed in the sense they have the fewest fans of any franchise. They live off a form of “corporate” welfare. It’s not the Rays fault. They’re manipulating the system, effectively living off revenue sharing while adding little to the pot themselves. It’s MLB’s fault for putting a franchise there in that park and allowing them to exist while adding little to grow the greater game.
Annual post-season contender? I mean, yes, if by annual you mean the past three seasons. The five seasons before that they missed the postseason….annually.
You’ve got to believe at a point it became trendy not to go, then the stadium got old before it’s time.
They’ve laid the groundwork for the team to go several places, Nashville included but should and probably will come up with a compromise to get a better stadium in a more commuter friendly spot.
I’d like to see a massive expansion over a decade or two. London, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Beiging, Manila, a second on the pearl river area. At some point mlb will stop trying to convert every N American into a fan and concentrate on growing the game.
I’ll agree with you about the park and location. Those create the third issue, the ever changing roster. I love baseball and the Rays but that place has zero baseball atmosphere. Doomed? A bit of an exaggeration, maybe?
AlwaysGo – I don’t see how it’s not doomed in the Tampa region. Fan support is spotty and the region can’t seem to agree on any set course for a new park. I genuinely believe the franchise’s days in Tampa are numbered – “doomed” (set for an inevitable, unfortunate ending).
Again you are confusing fan support with attendance. They don’t always coincide. The park and it’s location keeps fans like myself away. I watch every game, and when/if they get the stadium, I’ll there.
It’s great you are a fan. I don’t see enough volume, meaning people like you, to support the franchise longterm.
Where are you looking and why do you really care? The stadium issue has to be resolved while they’re still contenders.
Doomed franchise – terrible park, terrible location, and a team with an ever-changing roster. Thankfully we have Ulysses S. Manfred, a fearless leader for the ages, to guide this transition.
Your thoughts resonate with any fan of a small market team, of course, minus the ballpark issue
I guess we fans can’t grasp the financial system MLB has in place because it continually guarantees that our teams will be playoff worthy once a decade if not more
Still, the Rays have competed and thrived in this environment where few others have. Don’t know if call them “doomed” any more than the O’s, Pirates or Royals
Franchise is doomed. Geographically. I had no idea so many passionate Rays fans inhabited this world. All six of you should start regularly attending Rays games. You can basically sit where you like in that refurbished hockey rink masquerading as a ball park. Geographically, the Rays days in “Tampa” are numbered – they certainly should be.
Insults at a successful team’s fan base? Original.
You’re jealousy is embarrassing. Just stop
First off, I’m a Pirates fan, living in Pittsburgh. Secondly, if TB is geographically doomed, how is it that Miami isn’t just as doomed? Or KC? Or Baltimore? Or here? Rare you see huge crowds in any of these places, unless you have fireworks night or Pierogies on Parade like here in Pittsburgh.
Using your logic, just building a new ballpark would solve everything. We have arguably the nicest park in MLB but struggle to get 15K there on a nightly basis
No, all of MLB is doomed unless some leveling of the playing field in a financial sense becomes a priority. Left as is, MLB might as well just confine itself to major markets and simply play some Field of Dreams exhibitions for “bottom feeder” markets
Newman – your childish reply is noted.
You are exactly right, unless the teams become more equal the game will get much worse. Max Scherzer at 43M,give me a break.
Get outside of your bubble. You only pay attention to the attendance figures yet amazingly give the 2 main reasons why it is low. Conflicted thinking possibly?
It does get old, doesn’t it. Teams routinely raid the Rays front office trying to figure out the winning with fewer dollars strategy.
Keep it somewhere you can reflect.
In terms of winning these last 15 years or so, there’s about two thirds of the fans in baseball who would like to experience the level of “doom” that Rays fans have experienced.
I must have missed that Rays World Series win. Same treatment Oakland receives – patronizing.
You have a pathetic obsession with the Rays, to bad you know nothing of the situation of which you speak. The Rays have the 5th best winning % of any team in baseball the last 14 years and if they moved the stadium near where the lightning play(EVERY GAME)sold out for years, they would average 20 thousand plus every night.
“Pathetic obsession,” good god, man, it’s a discussion. I appreciate the editorial, no less. Sounds like you have it all figured out. You should call the mayor. Good luck.
Judging an organization like the Rays based on WS title alone is childish. The Rays are a great team, well run. There’s no flaw in their plan that’s getting them to the playoffs every year, yet somehow prevents them from winning it all. The Rays win every year.
If a discussion requires acting like a bitter parasite and just spewing out negativity.
Bravo, you’re doing a real bang up job pal
Ha! I usually don’t engage with this nonsense, but there’s a snow storm “near” Nashville today and I’m cooped-up inside. Appreciate the laugh, Newman.
Ah, why not? Cosmo, like I said, patronizing. World Series titles are not a reasonable expectation? Come on, man. It’s still storming outside. Let’s have it, try again.
The Pirates should make a move. Cruz, Davis, and Nick Gonzales for Meadows.
Please take your baseball serious.
KK is the prime focus by management to get traded, IF they don’t get someone to bite then both margot and meadows will get either traded or released. But one thing is for sure, at least 10 million will get off the books when the season starts.
Yeah, releasing Margot and Meadows is gonna happen. Maybe they’ll release Glasnow too instead of paying him $6MM to rehab for 1 year (when the going rate for a pitcher of his caliber is $35MM per year on a long term deal). You say you’re a Rays fan but you clearly know nothing of baseball trade values and economics.
They’re not releasing those players
Yankees are a team that could use another lefty outfielder with limited abilities for their short porch in right.
But more likely it’s an NL team if the DH opens up.
@ClevelandSteelEngines- Obviously, the Yankees and Rays never trade with each other. If I’m Tampa I would trade Meadows to a NL West team far far away. Like the Padres, Diamondbacks, or the Giants if they have to move him. They should be able to get at least 2 top prospects and a mid level prospect in return.
Ray fan here. If the Rays could get that they would have traded him in November. So so corner OF with pop.
No way they get two top prospects and a mid level prospect. They might get two mid level prospects in return if they’re lucky but forget about the two top guys. I’m assuming by two top prospects you mean top five.
Think his trade value is lower now than his actual potential is. I’d love the Braves to have him. But even with that “lower value” I know it would still cost a lot.
@bravesfan- Pache and Waiters, and a pitching prospect?
Trade proposal
NYY gets: Kiermaier, Meadows
TB gets: Voit, Severino, Hicks, Gallo
Yankee fans sure dream big.
Must really pain them that Frazier isn’t around anymore to routinely throw his name in such trade proposals
Yeh keep slapping yourself on the back with that old one…..
@Yanks2- No giving up Sevvy, sorry.
Well, not such a big dream smart guy….Voit coupled with their current first baseman would give them a pretty awesome platoon nightmare for most opposing clubs…Hicks/Gallo would give them equal production to Meadows (.234) who may or may not have a 2022 equal to 2021 again…..and they get a potential big arm in Sevy……for a terribly expensive Kiermeyer contract in return for a fading glove first CF’er, and a ? in Meadows…..
That being said, the Yankees would not make that trade within the division and have to face all those guys 18 times a year and maybe in the playoffs….and the Hicks contract might scare anyone away based on his fragile nature over the past several years.
The Rays aren’t touching that trade.
The only reason that the Rays may be looking to trade Meadows is to save money. They sure as h*ll aren’t going to trade him for a group of players that has no cheap control left, is far more expensive along with being older. Absolutely contrary to their business plan. But other than that…
Yanks2 = That trade proposal isn’t awful from a trade value perspective, but the Rays don’t take on bad contracts. That’s partly how they stay so successful. Hicks is so under water that he’s going to be tough to move. Not that it matters, the Rays don’t trade with the Yankees.
Hicks’contraxt isn’t necessarily “bad” per se. The contract was 70m in total and only has a few years left on it. Ellsbury’s contract is bad; his contract was about double and he didn’t even play the last 3 years being injures. Hicks is a switch hitter and when healthy, has a rocket of an arm and makes spectacular plays. Decent playoff player also
Key word is when healthy. Hicks is rarely healthy. His contract is bad and hard to move.
Contract is only 10m annually. They’d be able to move his contract a lot easier than Stanton’s for example. Yankees could eat some of the contract and find a team interested enough to be able to move Hicks I’d bet
LOL. Well yeah… Stanton’s contract is over $100MM under water. Hicks is around $25MM under water (according to BTV trade values).
Ah, I’m a Yankee fan too and rue the day Hicks was signed long term because he can’t seem to play 100 games in any given year and his assortment of injuries might prove he should have stuck with Golf…..very fragile injury wise……and his arm ain’t a “rocket” any longer, and his range has definitely suffered as he ages……playoffs…did you say playoffs?
You’re gonna have to do a 3-way with the Orioles, because you’re gonna have to include the entire surgical staff from Johns Hopkins.
I understand these writers have to come up with something during the lockout, but everyone knows the Rays will trade anybody at anytime.
“the club is at least open to discussing anyone short of Wander Franco.”
_____
All Rays will eventually be traded. Just a question of when. That includes Franco.
Nope. They rarely if ever, will trade within their division.
I’m skeptical about the rumors that the Rays are interested in Kimbrell. They’ve shown they can put together a great bullpen year after year for minimal cost. The idea that the Rays would pay a guy nearly twice their highest salary (Kiermaier’s 12M salary only counts as 9M for tax purposes) for 60 innings plus or minus doesn’t make sense. He’s the kind of guy they move for prospects, not the kind of guy they go out and get.
Meadows & Glasnow to SD for Campusano.
A rare trade that’ll be rejected by both clubs.
I wouldn’t mind a Meadows and Glasnow to the Cardinals for Bader, Mikolas, Woodard, Knitzer, Juan Yepez
BA 235 ( the new 275) 25+ HR 90+ rbi, average Defense,good club house guy, for under 5 million, WTF does anyone want him gone!!
This is a typical Rays move, playing the odds.
Some teams, and obvious fans based on this discussion, would salivate at Meadows upside and 2019 season. The Rays however are hedging against Meadows being able to reproduce his 2019 season and think his 2021 season is his mean.
Meadows triple slash line is cheap in free agency, what is Cruz going to get? Maybe 8 million? Meadows will make a little over 5 million but the prospect capital the Rays would get back would be worth more than the 3 million overage that they would pay Cruz.
It’s a classic “moneyball” move by a well ran front office. Then mindset is “I can buy this production in free agency for X amount, I’ll shop Meadows now where teams will pay on upside and years vs. next year, if he repeats his 2021 season and teams will be on the hook for 7-8 million vs. 5.3, then I run the risk of getting significantly less or having to DFA him and get nothing.
Cubs send Amaya, Velazquez, and maybe Vizcaino to TB for Meadows. Maybe add Morel or Howard if they throw in Glasnow.
LOL. You think Morel OR Howard gets the Cubs Glasnow?
Shocking! Meadows enters his arbitration years, Rays look to trade him. Water is wet.
We’re making room for Suzuki.
GO RAYS!!!
So they are trying to trade a $12 million centerfielder so they can go out and sign a $20+ million centerfielder? Sounds like the Rays.
I’m sure that every player on the Rays is available for the right high price.
Very good player
Blue Jays are also looking for a Left hitting OF, also are looking to move a right hitting OF aswell. They also have lots of great top prospects the Rays would love. Could be a worth a poke. Just 26, and still 3 years of control, 27 Hrs LY…and a Lefty. Jays are All Right hitters, only Biggio hits left presently! Better long term vs. Resigning Dickeson again. …but must be the right deal. maybe get a mid rotation SP and/RP added to the deal? Poke Poke…