Rays have a deal to add former Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Dec 3, 2025

Published in Baseball

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TAMPA, Fla. — The Rays’ found a new center fielder who is an old division foe.

Longtime Oriole Cedric Mullins has agreed to terms on a one-year major league contract, pending a physical exam, for a reported $7 million.

The deal is expected to be finalized before Sunday’s start of the winter meetings. The Rays also will have to make room on the 40-man roster for the lefty swinger.

Mullins, 31, debuted with the Orioles in 2018 and became a key part of their lineup for an extended period, then was traded to the Mets last July and became a free agent after the season.

The Rays will be banking on a bounce back from his 2025 performance as he hit .216 with 17 homers, 59 RBIs and a .690 OPS over 133 games between the teams.

Over his eight major league seasons, Mullins has a a .246 average and .736 OPS, and has been known for athletic and acrobatic play in center field.

His best season was 2021 when he joined the 30-30 club. hitting .291 with 30 homers, 59 RBIs, 30 steals and an .878 OPS. He made the AL All-Star team, won a Silver Slugger award and finished ninth in the AL MVP voting.

From 2022-24, he hit. 244 and averaged 16 homers, 60 RBIs and 28 steals.

The Rays went into the offseason seeking to improve production in their outfield and so far have added veteran Jake Fraley (also a lefty) and Ryan Vilade (a righty swinger with only 64 major league at-bats) who can play on the corners, and Mullins to take over in center.

They join a a group of returnees — pending further moves — that include Jonny DeLuca, Josh Lowe, Jake Mangum, Richie Palacios, Tristan Peters and Chandler Simpson. Lowe, Palacios, Peters and Simpson are also left-handed hitters.