Cedric Mullins Signs One-Year Deal With Rays After Woeful Season

The Tampa Bay Rays are rolling the dice on upside and experience, signing veteran center fielder Cedric Mullins to a one-year, $7 million deal.

After a rocky stint with the New York Mets, Mullins heads back to the American League East. He’s hoping to rediscover the All-Star form that once made him one of the most electric outfielders in baseball.

Cedric Mullins Rejoins the AL East With Rays Deal

This move brings Mullins back to familiar territory. He spent seven and a half seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, becoming a fan favorite and an All-Star in 2021.

A midseason trade sent him to the Mets in 2025. Now, the Rays are handing him a fresh start in a division he knows inside and out.

For Tampa Bay, it’s a pretty classic low-risk, high-upside signing. They’re making a short-term financial commitment to a player who’s shown he can make a real impact in center field.

A Difficult Mets Chapter That Rays Hope Is an Outlier

Mullins’ time with the Mets? Pretty rough from the jump. Dealt at the 2025 trade deadline to help fix New York’s issues in center field, he just never got comfortable at the plate.

He finished his Mets tenure hitting only .182/.284/.565 with two home runs and 10 RBIs. That stat line tells the story of a hitter pressing in a new environment.

Mullins admitted it was tough adjusting midseason, especially with the playoff pressure. As the Mets faded down the stretch, he appeared just twice in the last two series—both sides just couldn’t find the right fit.

Why the Rays See Value in Cedric Mullins

Despite the disappointing Mets stint, the Rays see more than just a cold stretch. They see a player with a real track record, defensive chops, and athleticism that fits their style.

Mullins brings a mix of pop, speed, and baseball smarts that always seems to catch the eye of analytically-minded teams like Tampa Bay.

Career Resume: Power, Speed, and Experience

Over his career, Mullins has tallied 103 home runs and posted a .736 OPS. That’s not just placeholder production—it’s the kind of output you want from your everyday center fielder.

His 2021 All-Star season still stands out as his peak, a reminder of what he can do when he’s healthy and dialed in. Even when he hasn’t matched that high, Mullins has brought enough offense to justify a starting spot, especially when you factor in his defense.

Defensive Anchor in Center Field

Defense is where Mullins really shines. He’s got above-average sprint speed and covers gaps with ease, turning extra-base hits into outs that look routine.

Last season, Mullins ranked in the 87th percentile in Outs Above Average (OAA) per MLB’s Statcast. That puts him among the better defensive center fielders out there.

For a Rays squad that values run prevention and positioning, that’s exactly the kind of profile they want.

How Mullins Fits Into the Rays’ 2026 Strategy

The Rays’ blueprint doesn’t change much: squeeze value on the margins, find bounce-back candidates, and trust their development system. Mullins fits that mold perfectly.

Tampa Bay plans to use his speed, defense, and left-handed bat in creative ways, adjusting his role to matchups and ballparks.

Expected Role and On-Field Impact

On a one-year, $7 million contract, Mullins isn’t just there for depth. The Rays are betting on him to be their main guy in center field, anchoring the defense and chipping in on offense.

Here’s what he brings to the table:

A Classic Rays Rebound Candidate

From Mullins’ perspective, this move feels like a shot at rewriting his story. He’s heading back to a division he knows well.

The Rays have a knack for helping players fine-tune their strengths and cover up their flaws. Mullins probably hopes they’ll work that magic with him, too.

If he can tap into even a bit of his 2021 form and keep flashing that top-tier defense, he might just turn into one of the offseason’s sneakiest wins. Who knows—maybe he even sets himself up for a fatter contract next winter.

 
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