The Rays are looking to keep a couple of their core players around longterm

It’s extension season in baseball right now and according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the Tampa Bay Rays have had preliminary talks with the camps of All-Star outfielder Austin Meadows and right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow.

Meadows enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2019 with the Rays as he clobbered 33 homeruns over 591 plate appearances and slashed .291/.364/.558 and accrued 4.0 fWAR over 138 games. He is currently under contract through the 2024 season, becoming arbitration eligible following the 2021 season.

The Rays outfielder is open to an extension and loves playing for the Rays, but states that the two sides haven’t exchanged figures on any potential deal as of now.

“I definitely would be open to something like that. There has been some initial stuff, but that’s kind of it. Numbers and stuff haven’t really been discussed. Obviously, the extension has been brought up. We’ll see how it kind of plays out and see where it goes.’’ - Tampa Bay Times

Along with Austin Meadows, Tyler Glasnow has also had preliminary talks with the Rays about a possible extension. Glasnow is open to the idea of signing longterm with the Rays, but at this time, nothing appears imminent.

Glasnow has enjoyed considerable success since joining the Rays, along with Meadows, at the 2018 trade deadline and seemed well on his way to a Cy Young caliber season in 2018 until he was derailed by injuries. Glasnow is fully healthy now and appears as dominant as ever and doesn’t want to sell himself short by locking up a long term contract right now.

“Sure I’d listen, but definitely I don’t want to sell myself short by any means and also I don’t want to ask for the moon. I have no problem going year-to-year, or doing something like (a long-term deal). But I haven’t thought a lot about it in depth.’’ ﻿- Tampa Bay Times

Following the 2020 season, Glasnow will be arbitration eligible for the first time and is slated to become a free agent following the 2023 season.

During last year in spring training, the Rays signed Cy Young winner Blake Snell to a five-year, $50M contract, and second baseman Brandon Lowe to a six-year deal with two option years tacked on, as well. Lowe would become an All-Star alongside Meadows that year.