BREAKING: Mets acquire Cedric Mullins from the Orioles
In search of offense, the Mets are hoping for a rejuvenation from Mullins as he brings both power and speed to their outfield for the stretch drive
After filling out their bullpen in the trade market on Wednesday, the Mets are hoping they found the offensive upgrade they’ve been seeking and rejuvenate their stagnant offense, acquiring OF Cedric Mullins from the Orioles, according to MLB.com.
In return for Mullins, the Mets will send prospects Raimon Gómez (30th ranked prospect), Anthony Nunez and Chandler Marsh to Baltimore.
It has been a rocky road for the soon-to-be 31-year-old Mullins since his breakout seasons in 2021 and 2022. After posting a .799 OPS and 122 OPS+ and 124 extra-base hits during those two seasons, Mullins’ production has fallen off dramatically with a nearly-league average 103 OPS in the three seasons since and near replacement level production this season to the tune of a .229/.305/.433 slash line with 19 doubles, 15 home runs, 49 RBI with 34 walks and 85 strikeouts in 355 plate appearances.
Mullins has been below average in nearly every offensive metric and has -13 defensive runs saved in center field this season.
Still, Mullins has excelled in a small sample against left-handed pitching this season, hitting .298/.390/.476 with nine extra-base hits in 101 plate appearances against the left side in 2025. Meanwhile, the Mets have just a .659 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, nearly 100 points lower than that against right-handed pitching.
The move to acquire Mullins will most certainly leave the Mets with a difficult decision on how to deploy all of Jeff McNeil, Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña, and Ronny Mauricio at either second or third base the rest of the way. The Mets can continue to deploy McNeil in a super-utility role and get him at-bats at two outfield positions, two infield positions, as well as a left-handed designated hitter option. The Mets could conceivably use Vientos as a designated hitter option on the right side, install Brett Baty or Ronny Mauricio at third, and use Acuña as a utility middle infielder. They could also option Acuña to the minors and go with matchup-based configurations with Baty and Mauricio at third with McNeil or Baty at second.
Then of course there’s Starling Marte and fitting him into the puzzle, as well as Jesse Winker when he is healthy, presumably sometime in August.
Mullins is earning $8.725 million in his final year of arbitration - he can be a free agent after the 2025 season.
There wasn't a lot out there. The reported price for Luis Robert Jr. included Jonah Tong, so that wasn't going to happen. He has two $20 million options remaining on his contract, too.
So, we take a chance on Mullins. He can go and get it (his poor defensive metrics are largely due to his noodle arm), he has speed on the basepaths, some pop, and he's not an automatic out. If nothing else, he'll lengthen the lineup by a spot, although a change of scenery might mean we get a lot more than that. And we still have Tyrone to come in late to protect a lead.
Speaking of which, the real story is the bullpen haul. We couldn't have done much better than that. We got everything we need at a cost we can very much handle, and now we're primed to make our run.
We just need to hit.
This is an excellent move. Mullins is a true 2-way CF and has been getting hot at the plate lately. McNeil has been doing a good job but is not a true CF. Taylor is, unfortunately, an automatic out. The price for Robert was apparently too high.