AUSTIN MEADOWS NEWS

Raking early in Grapefruit League Meadows went a combined 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBI, two walks and two runs over four plate appearances across the Rays' first two Grapefruit League games Sunday and Monday.

Impact The 25-year-old came into spring training 10 to 15 pounds lighter than the end of last season, and the more svelte figure appears to be paying dividends at the plate early. Meadows slugged a career-high 33 home runs just two seasons ago before battling COVID-19 issues during the shortened 2020 campaign, and if early returns are any indication, he looks set to make good on his pledge of returning to a higher caliber of production in 2021.

MARCH 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Spring games begin with fans, new faces, moment for Mancini

All over spring training, baseball enjoyed a bevy of reassuring signs Sunday on the opening day of Grapefruit and Cactus league play

FEBRUARY 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tampa Bay Rays: Will Austin Meadows bounce back in 2021? Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Austin Meadows struggled with an oblique injury in 2020 after an All-Star season in 2019. Today we look to see if...

FEBRUARY 28, 2021 • CALLTOTHEPEN.COM

Slimmer, quicker than last season Meadows reported to spring training having lost 10-15 pounds in his offseason training program and has caught the eye of manager Kevin Cash, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. "I got a...

Impact The list of misfortunes and maladies was long for Meadows in 2020 -- he battled COVID-19, a strained oblique and a significant lack of timing with his bat, leading to a forgettable .205/.296/.371 line across 152 plate appearances. The sub-standard numbers were in stark contrast to a 2019 campaign during which he'd slugged a career-best 33 home runs. The 25-year-old emphasizes that feeling athletic and light on his feet in the batter's box is instrumental to his success, and Cash notes he's already seen evidence of such in early batting practice sessions in the form of Meadows being able to reach certain pitches with greater ease than when he was slower and heavier last season.

FEBRUARY 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Slimmer Meadows eager to regain '19 form PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- This offseason, Austin Meadows set out to rediscover the form that made him an American League All-Star in 2019 -- n...

FEBRUARY 26, 2021 • MLB.COM

Archer eager to re-establish himself with AL champion Rays

Chris Archer is back in familiar surroundings, eager to re-establish himself with the Tampa Bay Rays

FEBRUARY 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chris Archer finalizes 1-year, $6.5 million deal with Rays

Free agent right-hander Chris Archer has finalized a one-year, $6.5 million contract that reunites him with the Tampa Bay Rays

FEBRUARY 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Archer agrees to rejoin Rays on $6.5 million, 1-year deal

Two-time All-Star pitcher Chris Archer has agreed to rejoin the Tampa Bay Rays on a $6.5 million, one-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press

FEBRUARY 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pitcher Chris Archer's $11M option declined by Pirates

Pitcher Chris Archer’s $11 million option for 2021 has been declined by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the 32-year-old right-hander became a free agent

NOVEMBER 1, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays reach Series, but face familiar question over new park

Blake Snell spent nearly 10 minutes discussing a disappointing end to the World Series before concluding with a message to the rest of the Tampa Bay Rays

OCTOBER 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Arozarena's breakout postseason not quite enough for Rays

Randy Arozarena extended his big league record with his 10th postseason homer, but Tampa Bay lost 3-1 to the champion Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series

OCTOBER 28, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

World Series notes: Dodgers bullpen finishes off Rays

The Los Angeles Dodgers relied on their bullpen in a World Series-clinching 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6

OCTOBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays, Dodgers grateful to have fans at neutral-site Series

World Series games are being limited to about 11,000 mask-wearing fans each night at a neutral site in Texas because of the coronavirus

OCTOBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dodgers 1 win from title after 32 years and more than $3.6B

Since Orel Hershiser struck out Oakland’s Tony Phillips for the final out of the 1988 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers have played 5,014 regular-season games and 113 more in t...

OCTOBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Latest: Kershaw beats Rays again, gives LA Series lead

Clayton Kershaw beat the Tampa Bay Rays for the second time in six days, escaping a fourth-inning jam with a quick reaction throw to cut down a runner trying for a rare steal of ho...

OCTOBER 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Won't start versus lefty Meadows is out of the lineup Sunday in Game 5 of the Rays' World Series matchup with the Dodgers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact He'll take a seat for the second straight day with the Dodgers bringing another southpaw (Clayton Kershaw) to the hill. Hunter Renfroe will check into the lineup in place of Meadows, who is slashing .130/.167/.261 in the postseason.

OCTOBER 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

On bench for Game 4 Meadows will sit for Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Saturday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact Meadows sat against southpaw Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 and will head to the bench again with another lefty (Julio Urias) on the mound for this one. Randy Arozarena will be the designated hitter Saturday, with Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe handling the outfielder corners.

OCTOBER 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers' Jansen has heater back after early fall struggles

After slumping for weeks with slipping velocity and toothless bite on his signature cutter, Kenley Jansen reached 95.2 mph while closing out the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6-2 Game 3 vic...

OCTOBER 24, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Buehler leads Dodgers over Rays 6-2 for 2-1 Series lead

Los Angeles ace Walker Buehler set down the Tampa Bay Rays with dominance and ease that brought flashbacks of Orel Hershiser during the Dodgers' last title run

OCTOBER 24, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Latest: LA leads Series 2-1 after dominant Buehler start

Walker Buehler struck out 10 over six dominant innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers showed off all their many talents, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 to take a 2-1 lead in the World...

OCTOBER 23, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Why did the Pirates trade Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows? Failed bid at contention gifted Rays young stars The Rays acquired Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows in a 2018 trade deadline deal for Chris Archer with the Pirates. Based on the teams in th...

OCTOBER 23, 2020 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Randy and the Rays finally a group effort in World Series

After being carried through this postseason by breakout rookie Randy Arozarena, the Tampa Bay Rays' offense turned in a top-to-bottom team effort in a 6-4 Game 2 victory over the L...

OCTOBER 22, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Latest: Lowe hits 2 homers, Rays even World Series

Brandon Lowe hit two home runs to break out of an extended postseason slump and the Tampa Bay Rays held off the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4, tying the World Series at one game apiece

OCTOBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rays add extra LH hitters in lineup against Dodgers rookie

The Tampa Bay Rays have more left-handed hitters in their lineup for Game 2 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers

OCTOBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kershaw, LA stars shine, Dodgers top Rays 8-3 in WS opener

Clayton Kershaw, Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers left the Tampa Bay Rays stuck in neutral to open a surreal World Series

OCTOBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS