The Tampa Bay Rays have put themselves in position to make decisions from a place of strength, and one of those calls appears to be coming on Cedric Mullins.
Tampa Bay entered play on Sept. 15 at 90-59, the first team to lock up a postseason berth and still firmly in control of the American League East. The Rays led the New York Yankees by 3.5 games, with a four-game series between the division rivals set to begin next week. That matchup is likely to decide the division, and the Rays need just one win over New York to secure the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Even with the team rolling, not every veteran addition has delivered the way Tampa Bay hoped. Mullins, signed to a one-year deal in free agency, was brought in to steady the outfield after that group struggled badly in 2026. Instead, he has come up short in most areas, and ESPN insider Jeff Passan’s early MLB free agency intel points to the obvious next step: his mutual option is expected to be declined, sending him back to the market.
Offensively, Mullins has offered a familiar blend of pop and speed. He is on pace for at least 15 home runs and at least 19 stolen bases for the sixth straight season.
But beyond that, the bat has lagged. His OPS+ sits at 75, which would be the lowest mark of his career in a qualified season, and his -12 Batting Run Value lands in the eighth percentile.
The one area where he has held up at the plate is in controlling strikeouts and whiffs. His 22.0% whiff rate is in the 61st percentile, and his 19.1% strikeout rate is in the 63rd percentile.
The glove has helped keep him relevant. Mullins’ defensive numbers dipped sharply in 2025, but he has rebounded this season. His Fielding Run Value is +9, placing him in the 89th percentile, and his Range, measured by Outs Above Average, is +11, which ranks in the 96th percentile.
That kind of all-around value still matters, but the Rays already have plenty of outfield options in the organization and more talent coming. Jacob Melton and Theo Gillen are two names to keep an eye on as potential candidates to fill Mullins’ spot on the 2027 roster.
In Other News...
Rays Move On From Pitcher Still Trying To Rebound From Surgery
The Rays have made another roster move involving a pitcher still working his way back from surgery, with right-hander Michael Grove claimed off waivers by Atlanta and sent to Triple-A Gwinnett. Tampa Bay had designated Grove for assignment earlier, and he had spent time pitching in both the majors and minors this season as he tried to regain his footing after the operation.
Atlantas interest was practical as much as anything else, coming as the Braves look for extra pitching depth amid injuries in their rotation. For Tampa Bay, it is another reminder of how quickly the back end of a roster can turn over, especially with pitchers who are still in the middle of a recovery and trying to prove they can hold up again at the big-league level. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Have One Clear Weak Spot In A Tight AL East Race
With 13 games left, the Rays are still in control of a tight AL East race, and the broader picture looks good enough that they can afford to focus on one nagging issue rather than panic over the standings. Junior Caminero has helped steady the lineup with his strong play, giving Tampa Bay a source of impact production as the club tries to close out the regular season with its division lead intact.
Cedric Mullins, though, has remained the obvious weak spot in an otherwise competitive group. The outfielder has not provided much offensively this season, sitting at .202 with a .626 OPS, and that kind of drag stands out more now that every game carries extra weight. Even with the Rays in a strong position, how much they can live with that production down the stretch could shape the final push. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Quietly Added A New Arm And The Bullpen Implications Matter
The Rays were busy shuffling the board before their three-game series against the Athletics, and one of the more notable moves came on the pitching side with right-hander Michael Grove being claimed off waivers by Atlanta. Tampa Bay also had to adjust its own bullpen depth, placing Tyler Wells on the 15-day injured list with right forearm tightness, a move that closes the book on his regular season and forces the club to lean on the next layer of arms.
Alex Cook was recalled from Triple-A Durham to fill Wells spot, while Jake Fraley was activated from the 60-day injured list and catcher Kenny Piper was optioned to Durham. For a team that has long valued flexibility and depth, the sequence matters because every late-season pitching move can ripple forward, and the Rays now have to manage one more bullpen absence as they try to keep things steady over the final stretch. [Read more 🡒]