Cedric Mullins signing one-year contract with the Rays after woeful Mets stint

Cedric Mullins is heading back to the American League East.The outfielder is signing a one-year contract to join the Rays, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.The Tampa Bay Times first reported the signing, with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal adding that it’s a $7 million deal.Mullins spent the first seven and a half years of his career in the AL East with the Orioles before joining the Mets at the 2025 trade deadline in hopes of boosting the Amazin’s outfield.But those hopes went unfulfilled.

Mullins struggled at the plate in Queens, hitting .182/.284/.565 with two home runs and 10 RBIs as he could not help the Mets fill a yearlong dearth of offense coming from the center field position.With the Mets clinging to what amounted to ill-fated playoff hopes over the final week of the season, Mullins played just twice over the final two series as New York lost out on the final National League wild-card spot to the Reds in Game 162.Mullins said at the end of September that he was “disappointed” with how he was playing in the Big Apple.“I’m disappointed with how I’ve performed.

I haven’t lived up to what I know I can do,” Mullins said before Game 161 against the Marlins.“It sucks.

It hurts to not be able to come through for the guys.… “It’s definitely been a new experience.

It’s tough on me and the family just getting acclimated with all the different movements and whatnot that comes with being traded.The uniqueness of it is what sticks out the most.”For his career, Mullins, an All-Star in 2021, has 103 homers with a .736 OPS.

With above-average sprint speed, Mullins has been a solid defender in center field and ranked in the 87th percentile in outs above average on MLB’s Statcast last season....