Cedric Mullins’ Rollercoaster Career Takes Another Turn: From Mets Misstep to Rays Revival
Baseball fans, brace yourselves—Cedric Mullins is making headlines again, but this time, it’s not for the reasons you might expect. After a disappointing stint with the Mets that left many scratching their heads, the outfielder is now heading back to the American League East, signing a one-year, $7 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. But here’s where it gets controversial: can Mullins bounce back from his underwhelming performance in Queens, or is this just another chapter in a career that’s been full of highs and lows? Let’s dive in.
The move, first reported by the Tampa Bay Times and confirmed by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, marks Mullins’ return to familiar territory. He spent the first seven and a half years of his career with the Orioles in the AL East before joining the Mets at the 2025 trade deadline. The hope? To bolster the Mets’ outfield and inject some much-needed offense. Spoiler alert: it didn’t go as planned.
In Queens, Mullins struggled mightily at the plate, batting a mere .182/.284/.565 with just two home runs and 10 RBIs. For a player who was once an All-Star in 2021 with 103 career homers and a .736 OPS, this was a stunning decline. And this is the part most people miss: despite his above-average sprint speed and solid defensive skills—ranking in the 87th percentile in outs above average last season—Mullins couldn’t fill the offensive void the Mets desperately needed from their center fielder.
As the Mets clung to fading playoff hopes in the final week of the season, Mullins was benched for all but two games in the last two series. The result? New York lost the final National League wild-card spot to the Reds in Game 162. Ouch. Mullins himself admitted to being “disappointed” with his performance in the Big Apple, telling reporters before Game 161 against the Marlins, ‘I haven’t lived up to what I know I can do. It sucks. It hurts to not be able to come through for the guys.’
But here’s the silver lining: Mullins’ move to the Rays could be the fresh start he needs. With a new team and a new league, he has the chance to rediscover the form that made him an All-Star. Or could this be another misstep in a career that’s been as unpredictable as a knuckleball? Only time will tell.
Controversial Question for You: Is Cedric Mullins’ signing with the Rays a smart move for both sides, or is this just another example of a player who’s past his prime? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—we’re all ears!
