Breaking MLB Free Agency News: Tampa Bay Rays Sign former All-Star, 30-HR Hitter

The Tampa Bay Rays are not usually one of the first teams one would think of when it comes to a free agent signing. But they have jumped in and signed former All-Star outfielder Cedric Mullins to a one-year deal.

Cedric Mullins is signing a one-year deal with the Rays, per @TBTimes_Rays pic.twitter.com/Rphrr8n7nh
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) December 3, 2025

Mullins spent all but the last two months of his eight-year major league career with the Baltimore Orioles, and was an All-Star in 2021 when he showed off his significant power-speed combo, blasting 30 home runs and stealing 30 bases with an .878 OPS.

He hasn't returned to that kind of production since, but he is still in the 90th percentile in baserunning value (per Baseball Savant), and his range in the outfield on Outs Above Average found him in the 87 percentile. And given his disappointing season with the Orioles & New York Mets, the Rays were likely able to get him at a discount.

In 2025, Mullins, 31, finished with 17 homers and 22 SBs, but a career-worst .690 OPS and .216 average knocked down his value heading into free agency.

Overall, he has a career .247 batting mark with a .736 OPS.

With the Rays, he should slot right into center field, removing Chandler Simpson from having to take on that responsibility with his weak defensive instincts. However, with Josh Lowe in right and Simpson in left, Tampa will certainly have one of the speediest outfields in the game.