ST. PETERSBURG -- In many ways, the match between Cedric Mullins and the Rays makes perfect sense.
This past season, Tampa Bay’s outfield combined for only 29 home runs, fewest in the Majors. Mullins has hit between 15 and 18 homers each year since his breakout, 30-homer campaign in 2021.
Meanwhile, the Rays’ usually airtight outfield defense ranked among the Majors’ worst in Outs Above Average (21st, minus-9) and Fielding Run Value (26th, minus-12). Mullins, known for his acrobatic catches and highlight-reel plays in center field, had what he described as his “worst defensive season” in 2025 and still totaled four OAA.
Playing against the Rays in the American League East since 2018, Mullins grew from a youngster in the early stages of the Orioles’ rebuild into a veteran who impressed Tampa Bay officials with his work ethic and professionalism. Similarly, Mullins said he has long admired the Rays for their gritty style.
After agreeing to terms earlier in the week, the two sides officially came together Saturday on a one-year contract that will put Mullins in center field for the Rays next season. The deal will pay Mullins $7 million in 2026 and comes with a $10 million mutual option (or $500,000 buyout) for '27.
To make room for Mullins on their 40-man roster, the Rays designated right-handed pitching prospect Yoniel Curet for assignment.
“There's the talent aspect of this. There's the motivation to come here and have a big year,” Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said. “Couldn't ask for a better example as a professional for our younger, developing, impressionable players when it comes to how he goes about his business.”
Mullins, 31, said the Rays were one of the first teams to contact his agent this offseason, and they had everything he was looking for as a first-time free agent.
“There was a genuine interest that was shown to me pretty early in the offseason. There was a mutual trust that was kind of connected through that,” Mullins said. “Through the conversation, we both looked at each other and agreed that there was an opportunity not only for me to come in and help continue to better myself as a player, but also come in and make a pretty significant impact for the team as well.”
As logical as the fit seems, there are still questions regarding Mullins and Tampa Bay’s crowded outfield.
The Rays currently have the following outfielders on their 40-man roster: Mullins, Josh Lowe, Jake Fraley, Chandler Simpson, Jake Mangum, Jonny DeLuca, Richie Palacios, Ryan Vilade and Tristan Peters. There’s simply not enough playing time for all of them.
That logjam could be resolved through trades, but stockpiling depth was also intentional. Neander noted that Mullins, Fraley, Lowe, DeLuca and Palacios are all coming off seasons “that weren’t up to the standards they hold for themselves,” due to either injuries or performance. Vilade has only played 28 games in the Majors, and Peters has four games to his name. Mangum and Simpson, meanwhile, are coming off encouraging rookie seasons.
Creating competition in camp might get the best out of them.
“By getting the right people together, that increases competition, and we're going to run that out,” Neander said. “I think across the board, we expect them to be better next year than they were this past year -- certainly more healthy. And like I said, we'll sort through it as we go, but believe that, when you're trying to be a better club, competition is certainly healthy and needed to achieve that.”
As for Mullins, any concern is based mostly on how he finished last season. After an excellent April, he slashed just .198/.263/.355 in 105 games the rest of the way, including a .182/.284/.281 slash line after a midseason trade from the Orioles to the Mets.
Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Mullins sounded motivated to put all that behind him. He acknowledged that the Orioles’ turbulent season affected him, as did changing teams for the first time in his career. He said he’s identified adjustments he can make offensively and said he was “not OK” with what he viewed as a step back defensively.
“I think my determination to come in, make [the] adjustments needed to continue to better myself as a player was something that Tampa Bay was in full agreement with,” Mullins said. “I think they're definitely able to help me in that department.”
Between his 30-homer, 30-steal campaign in 2021 and this past season, Mullins had been remarkably consistent, with an adjusted OPS+ sitting between 101 and 107 each year from 2022-24. He served a brief injured list stint in June due to a right hamstring strain, and Neander noted Mullins also “managed some things, he played through some things” during the season.
But the Rays’ deep dive into Mullins’ profile left them satisfied that he has held up well physically and should continue to do so in their outfield next year.
“The overall results with Baltimore last year, the year before, the year before -- all pretty consistent,” Neander said. “We're not asking for him at 31 [years old] to be anything other than who he is, and that'll be more than enough for us.”