The New York Mets are set to acquire outfielder Cedric Mullins from the Baltimore Orioles, as reported by MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. The trade will send prospects Raimon Gómez, Anthony Nunez, and Chandler Marsh to the Orioles in return.
Mullins, who is 30 years old, will be transitioning to a new team for the first time in his career. He was drafted by the Orioles in the 13th round of the 2015 MLB Draft and initially saw part-time play from 2018 to 2020 without making a significant impact. However, he had an impressive breakout season in 2021, where he achieved a remarkable performance by hitting 30 home runs and stealing 30 bases. That year, he posted a batting line of .291/.360/.518, leading to a 136 wRC+. His efforts also earned him a strong defensive reputation, contributing to an impressive six wins above replacement (WAR) as credited by FanGraphs.
Since that breakout season, Mullins has faced challenges in maintaining his elite production but has remained a reliable everyday player. From 2022 to the present, he has managed to hit .241/.310/.412 with a wRC+ of 103, marking him as slightly above league-average during this period. Notably, he has stolen 99 bases and has continued to showcase strong defensive skills, accumulating 8.8 fWAR over the last two seasons, which averages to just over two wins per year.
This acquisition marks an important step for the Mets as they seek to bolster their outfield and enhance their competitive edge.
As the Mets move forward with this acquisition, fans can remain optimistic about Mullins’ potential to impact the team positively and contribute to their ambitions in the upcoming season.