Rays nab free agent outfielder that Guardians fans have been clamoring for 

For as long as there’s been a need in the Guardians' outfield, there’s been Cedric Mullins lurking as a possible replacement. 

He was there in 2021 when he became a first-time All-Star. He was there in 2023 and ‘24 when the Orioles made the postseason. And he was there last season when the Orioles traded him at the deadline… to the Mets. 

He’s not there anymore, as he agreed to a one-year contract with the Rays on Wednesday, confirming the Guardians won’t be able to get him in free agency as a much-needed reinforcement for their outfield. 

Guardians lose another outfield option thanks to Rays signing Cedric Mullins

The biggest reason why the Guardians likely ended up staying away from Mullins was because of his recent track record. Mullins, 31, finished the year with a .216/.299/.391 slashline in 133 games with the Mets and Orioles in one of the worst walk years in recent memory. 

Now he’ll get a chance to recoup some value in one season in Tampa in the hopes of hitting it big in free agency again next winter. His best season was that aforementioned 2021 season where he hit .291/.360/.518 with 30 home runs and 30 steals. 

Even if that season seems like a bit of an outlier, he’s still a quality outfielder who can hit the ball out of the park and steal a base. He’s also been a serviceable center fielder, though he’s failed to reach the mark of 11 Outs Above Average that he had in 2021. 

Although Mullins may not be the biggest signing in the world thanks to the regression that he showed last season, it’s not hard to think about how he’d help the Guardians, especially on a one-year pillow contract. 

Last year, the Guardians center field rotation consisted of a converted infielder (Angel Martínez), an injured veteran (Lane Thomas) and the occasional start from Nolan Jones. Jones and Martínez are back in the fold, but neither of them should get the same kind of run in center field as they did last year. 

It’ll be interesting to see how the Guardians pivot now that Mullins is off the board. A reunion with Thomas makes even more sense (though his injury from last year complicates things), as does signing a low-budget player like Austin Hays. The trade market could also be an option for a veteran like Brendan Donovan or Lars Nootbaar. 

The Guardians made their first indent in the hot stove on Wednesday by signing reliever Connor Brogdon, but they’re going to need to add more than just him to the roster if they want to compete in 2026.