The Tampa Bay Rays made a move this week that came out of left field. Very few MLB insiders had them linked to a former All-Star and longtime member of the Baltimore Orioles. In any event, Cedric Mullins is headed to the Rays on a one-year, $7 million deal. Mullins is a player who isn’t a strict platoon option and has plenty of veteran experience. The former Oriole can benefit from a change of scenery while helping the Rays in a number of ways.
Rays Add a Familiar Face From Charm City
This signing was a little surprising because the Rays were not prominently linked to Mullins in recent rumors. The Brandon Hyde hiring is now making more sense with the benefit of hindsight. Hyde managed Mullins for parts of seven seasons, and the pair experienced the highs and lows of baseball during their time together. One would have to think the Rays front office asked Hyde about Mullins during his initial job interviews. Mullins has put together a decent career that shouldn’t be damaged by a slump he experienced with the New York Mets after coming over at the trade deadline.
#Rays are in agreement with OF Cedric Mullins on a 1-year deal, pending a physical
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 3, 2025
Mullins is not Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger, but he fits the Rays nicely. The native of North Carolina is known primarily for his defense and speed. His defense in center field is one of the biggest strengths. The Rays have been the victim of his amazing defense in center field, and he has plenty of experience playing at Tropicana Field. Furthermore, his career numbers against the Rays are solid, and he brings plenty of knowledge about the Orioles roster.
Savvy Rays Addition
Mullins, 31, slashed .216/.299/.391 with 17 home runs and 59 RBI last season, split between the Orioles and Mets. His Mets tenure was a downright disaster. Still, it wasn’t all that long ago when Mullins was a 30-30 player who batted .291 with a 137 OPS+. Even if Mullins has been unsuccessful at replicating that level of production, he still contributes in a variety of other ways. Since that terrific 2021 season, Mullins can seemingly be penciled in for approximately 20 home runs. His stolen bases have tallied anywhere between 20 and 30, which is still productive for an aging player.
He posted 4 Outs Above Average in 2025, which ranked in the 87th percentile. His arm strength may be waning slightly, but the defensive numbers could lead to a declining profile over the next few seasons. The good news for the Rays is that this is only a one-year commitment. If Mullins is playing well and the team is floundering in the standings, he would become a prime chip at the trade deadline.
Mullins could be a great mentor to the younger outfielders and act as a stopgap to the next generation of players. He can play an important role in helping Chandler Simpson become the long-term answer in the grass. The Rays outfield is beginning to take shape with Mullins becoming the primary center fielder. Josh Lowe needs to get his act together in right field. He represents yet another left-handed hitter to a group that already includes Simpson, Lowe, Richie Palacios, and switch-hitter Jake Mangum. They brought in another outfielder just before Thanksgiving by signing Jake Fraley.
A Need to Trade Someone Else?
The Rays’ payroll is coming under further questioning as the club approaches the winter meetings. Recent reporting from The Tampa Bay Times indicated that the club envisions operating a payroll similar to last season. RosterResource estimates that last season checked in around $79 million. They now project the club for an $84 million payroll next season. It’s looking like the club will need to keep shuffling the roster in order to accommodate further additions.
Maybe a trade of someone else is in the offing. A trade involving Brandon Lowe and his $11.5 million salary could now be coming more into focus. The rumors could start picking up on Yandy Díaz and his $12 million salary. These are great players on bargain deals for most baseball teams, but not for the Rays after a season spent playing home games in a minor league ballpark. Still, the outfield needed a ton of work, and here’s hoping that Mullins can provide decent production on both sides of the ball.
Main Photo Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
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