The Mets are keeping a close eye on Cedric Mullins as the trade deadline approaches, and they might not be the only NL East team interested.
New York’s got one of baseball’s deepest lineups, but center field remains a question mark. Tyrone Taylor’s bat is borderline, Jose Siri is still out indefinitely, and Jeff McNeil has minimal experience at the position.
There’s still two months for the Mets to figure out if they need an upgrade in center, but if they decide they do, Mullins checks a lot of boxes. He’s a steady bat and reliable defender at a premium position, and he’s a rental on a last-place team.
An NL East Battle Brewing?
During a recent episode of “Locked On Mets,” host Ryan Finkelstein speculated that the Mets and Philadelphia Phillies could be the two teams bidding on Mullins at the July 31 trade deadline.
“Cedric Mullins is going to be moved. He’s a rental, and the Orioles are not in a position to extend him the qualifying offer after the season. So they have to trade him.”
Finkelstein makes a good point about the market dynamics here. Baltimore’s not going anywhere this season, and they can’t justify holding onto a 30-year-old outfielder who’ll walk for nothing in free agency.
“The question is, who’s going to be in the market for Cedric Mullins?” Finkelstein continued. “And the two teams that jump out are the Mets and the Phillies. Both teams could use another center fielder, particularly a left-handed center fielder.”
What Mullins Brings
The 30-year-old is slashing .232/.324/.448 and is on pace for a 30-homer season. His defense in center field passes the eye test, though the advanced metrics show some regression this year.
He’s not the All-Star he was in 2021, but he’s a very good major leaguer who could slot in nicely for a contending team.
What makes this interesting is the potential bidding war between division rivals. If the Mets don’t want Mullins, someone else will. And it’ll be fascinating to see whether it becomes an NL East showdown for his services.
The way I see it, both teams have clear needs, but the Mets might have a slight edge given their deeper farm system and willingness to spend on upgrades. That said, the Phillies aren’t exactly shy about making moves when they see a need.
