Fansided

25 most important stars for MLB playoffs

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 21: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees follows through on a sixth inning home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 21: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees follows through on a sixth inning home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL – SEPTEMBER 06: Austin Meadows #17 of the Tampa Bay Rays rounds third base to score a run in the first inning during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Friday, September 6, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – SEPTEMBER 06: Austin Meadows #17 of the Tampa Bay Rays rounds third base to score a run in the first inning during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Friday, September 6, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

20. Austin Meadows

The 2019 postseason may serve to cement the Chris Archer for Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows trade as one of the all-time worst deals in MLB history. That trade already looks awful for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but it will look even worse if Glasnow and Meadows star immediately in the playoffs while their old team is looking for a new manager and staring down a lengthy rebuild. In his first full season in the big leagues, Meadows emerged as a driving offensive force in an exciting, young lineup.

It’s surprising that the Pirates could never quite commit to giving Meadows a full shot, especially after he hit .292/.327/.468 in 49 games for them as a rookie last year. Tampa Bay turned him loose, and he responded by hitting .291/.364/.558 with 33 home runs and 889 RBI in 138 games. Meadows also made the All-Star Game.

Meadows was consistent all year and got better as the year wore on. He hit .292/.364/.619 in the second half with 21 home runs and 48 RBI in 67 games. The 24-year-old also slugged over. 500 against right-handed and left-handed pitching, with only a small drop in batting average against same-side pitching.

While there may be some long-term concerns over Meadows’ ability to play the field regularly, none of that matters now for the Rays. They were able to acquire a future ace and a 30-homer bat for an overrated starting pitcher. Now, it’s time to drive the knife in even deeper for Pirates fans with a big postseason.

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