Tampa Bay Rays and outfielder Cedric Mullins finalize one-year, $7 million contract, with mutual option for 2027
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida — Outfielder Cedric Mullins and the Tampa Bay Rays finalized a one-year, $7.5 million contract, which includes a mutual option for 2027.
Mullins will receive a $7 million salary next year, with a $10 million mutual option and a $500,000 buyout.
Tampa Bay designated right-hander Yoniel Curet for assignment to open a roster spot for Mullins, whose deal was announced Saturday.
Mullins, a 31-year-old center fielder and left-handed hitter, hit .216 with 17 home runs and 59 RBIs in 133 games this year for the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets, who acquired him at the July 31 trade deadline in exchange for three minor league right-handed pitchers: Raimon Gomez, Anthony Nunez and Chandler Marsh. Mullins hit .182 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 42 games with the Mets.
Selected to the All-Star Game in 2021, Mullins has a .247 batting average with 103 home runs and 337 RBIs in eight major league seasons with the Orioles and Mets.
He set personal bests in 2021 with a .291 batting average, 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, driving in 59 runs. In 2023, he recorded a career-high 74 RBI.