The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Top Five Trade Pieces

Mar 21, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates helmets and bats lay in the dugout prior to the game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Austin Meadows is an outfielder in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Ranked 28th overall by MLB’s prospect ranks coming into the season, Meadows has worked his way back from a hamstring injury that lingered through 2014, and has shown great promise in Advanced-A Bradenton. By most accounts, Meadows is excelling at an all-fields approach. As a left-handed hitter, it’s easy to see the value here. While not profiling as a traditional power-hitting outfielder, Meadows’s swing is solid.

With Meadows there is a strong link to the philosophical debate I alluded to above. With the MLB-level outfield locked up for the near-future, there would be no real need for Meadows to break through any time soon. So do the Pirates deal from a position of strength? Some would argue that answer to be yes with Harold Ramirez being not far behind Meadows. Do the Pirates hold onto Meadows should Andrew McCutchen bolt after his deal is up? Many would say yes.

No matter what sign of the coin you fall on, Meadows is a very attractive trade chip at just 20 years old.

Our next trade chip has some deficiencies, but has offensive promise to spare.

Next: #3 - Ring the Bell