The Baltimore Orioles have traded Cedric Mullins to the New York Mets in a major move made shortly before the MLB trade deadline. The 30-year-old center fielder, a 2021 All-Star, joins the Mets while the Orioles receive three pitching prospects in return, marking a significant shift for both teams.
Details of the Trade and Player Performances
Mullins, who has spent eight years with Baltimore and was their longest-tenured player, was sent to the Mets in exchange for right-handed pitching prospects Anthony Nunez, Raimon Gómez, and Chandler Marsh. According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, the deal came just over two hours before the trading deadline.
This season, Mullins has a slash line of .229/.305/.433, with 15 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases across 91 games. Recently, he has shown improvement at the plate, batting .321/.333/.547 over his last 57 plate appearances. He carries roughly $2.8 million remaining on his contract and will become a free agent after the season concludes.
Incoming Prospects Strengthen Orioles’ Pitching Depth
Right-hander Anthony Nunez, 24, started as an infielder with the San Diego Padres before switching to pitching. He boasts a 96 mph fastball, complemented by a low-90s cutter, along with effective mid-80s sweeper and changeup pitches. This year, Nunez has maintained a 1.58 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings across 32 games in High-A and Double-A levels.
Raimon Gómez, 23, has transitioned from starting to bullpen roles after missing the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery. Despite a high-velocity fastball reaching 104 mph, Gómez has struggled command-wise, posting a 6.95 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and a 28:15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 22 innings at High-A.
Chandler Marsh, 22, was not ranked among the Mets’ Top 30 prospects but has shown promise with solid statistics in Single-A and High-A. The former undrafted free agent holds a 2.57 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings over 42 relief innings this season.
The Impact of the Trade and What Lies Ahead
This trade marks a notable turning point for both the Orioles and Mets as Baltimore gains promising young arms to develop for the future, while New York adds a versatile All-Star outfielder who has been impactful both offensively and defensively. Mullins’ defensive skills, particularly his ability to cover ground in center field, had earned him recognition, despite some defensive metrics showing challenges in recent years.
As the Mets integrate Mullins into their lineup heading into the final stretch of the season, the potential for his offensive resurgence and defensive highlights could play a key role in their postseason ambitions. Meanwhile, the Orioles will look to cultivate their new pitching talents as they continue reshaping their roster for coming seasons.