Rays trade Meadows to Tigers for Paredes, pick

The Detroit Tigers bolstered their outfield just days before the season opener.

Detroit acquired Austin Meadows from the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday for infielder Isaac Paredes and a competitive balance pick in the 2022 draft.

The Rays had shopped Meadows for the bulk of the offseason after spending three-plus years in Tampa. Acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a package for Chris Archer in 2018, Meadows hit .256/.334/.492 in 375 games for the Rays.

The 26-year-old was an All-Star in 2019. Meadows struggled at times last season but still slashed .234/.315/.458 with 27 homers, 29 doubles, and 122 strikeouts in 142 contests. He's owed $4 million this season and has two additional years of team control. Meadows will likely play left field in Detroit.

Paredes appeared in 57 games across two campaigns for the Tigers. The 23-year-old hit .208/.306/.319 with five extra-base hits in 23 games in 2021 while seeing time at third base, second base, and shortstop. Paredes was Detroit's sixth-best prospect in 2020.

Meadows' departure likely leads to a promotion for outfield prospect Josh Lowe. The 24-year-old hit .291/.381/.535 with 22 home runs in 111 games in Triple-A last year.