MLB: The most valuable right fielders of 2019
By Bill Felber
9. Austin Meadows, Tampa Bay Rays, $8.297 million value; $557,000 salary
By his low-cost contributions, Meadows gave the Rays the payroll flexibility a low-revenue MLB team needs to be successful. Acquired in mid-season last year from Pittsburgh, Meadows blossomed in his first season as a full-timer. He combined 33 home runs with a .291 average for a .922 OPS and 143 OPS+ that got him an All Star Game invite.
His 3.8 WAR was good for $7.118 million in value, eighth best at the position. His defensive credentials weren’t at that level, in part because the Rays sentenced Meadows to 44 games as a designated hitter. That reduced his on-field innings to just 773, only the position’s 24th best. It equated to $961,000 value for playing time.
It also reduced his assist opportunities. Meadows only made two of them, and that translated to just $218,000 in value, the 27th best total.
Since Meadows still has two seasons of pre-arbitration eligibility remaining, he figures to be a valuable asset for the Rays through at least 2021, and probably for a few seasons after that. Tampa’s winter plans for Meadows are adopting the tried and true philosophy of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ They continue to project him as primarily a right fielder with occasional respites as a DH.