Dodgers Could Target Cedric Mullins to Bolster Struggling Outfield
The Dodgers might need to make a move for outfield help before the trade deadline. Even with Teoscar Hernández expected back from injury soon, there’s a clear weakness that could undermine their World Series aspirations.
Michael Conforto is struggling mightily at the plate, slashing just .172/.303/.287. That’s simply not going to cut it for a team with championship expectations. Meanwhile, rookie Andy Pages has played his way into an everyday role with his impressive performance.
So who might the Dodgers target? Joel Reuter of AthlonSports suggests Cedric Mullins of the Baltimore Orioles could be the perfect fit.
Mullins makes a lot of sense. He’s in the final year of his contract and is projected to earn around $56 million in free agency. The Orioles, despite their talented roster, haven’t performed as expected and might pivot to selling at the deadline.
“The All-Star center fielder will be a free agent at season’s end, and with a potential future outfield of Colton Cowser, Heston Kjerstad, and Tyler O’Neill, flipping him for prospects this summer makes sense if the Orioles do not intend to sign him to a long-term deal,” Reuter wrote.
What would Mullins bring to the Dodgers? Since his breakout 2021 season when he was an All-Star and Silver Slugger winner, he’s posted a .768 OPS with 86 home runs. This season, he’s hitting just .229 but has a solid .775 OPS with seven homers and 21 RBIs.
The Dodgers aren’t a franchise that leaves things to chance. They’re built to win now and defend their World Series title. Their current outfield configuration with Conforto struggling isn’t championship caliber.
Mullins could be the perfect rental piece – a proven center fielder with pop who could immediately upgrade the lineup. If the Orioles continue to underperform, he might be one of the biggest names available at the deadline.
The question isn’t really whether the Dodgers need outfield help – they clearly do. It’s more about whether they’ll be aggressive enough to land a player of Mullins’ caliber before another contender does.
