Declining or slumping?: Rays' Cedric Mullins remains elite defender on first-place team
Tampa Bay's veteran center fielder recorded his third multi-hit game Friday.
Declining or slumping? : Rays' Cedric Mullins remains elite defender on first-place team originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
With the Baltimore Orioles , Cedric Mullins provided the franchise with a marketable personality, hitting 101 home runs during eight mostly rebuilding campaigns. Last fall, the New York Mets ' marketing department attempted to hide the outfielder after his trade deadline acquisition . In 42 regular-season games with the Mets, Mullins hit .
182 with two home runs and 10 RBI, creating a short stay in Queens. In his opening 42 games with his new club, the Tampa Bay Rays , the results have nearly been the same, posting a . 181 batting average with three homers and 14 RBI.
For now, Mullins remains the everyday center fielder for the AL East-leading Rays, but when looking at his recent resume, how much longer will Rays manager Kevin Cash view the nine-year veteran's slow start as a slump over diminishing skills ? Rays' Cedric Mullins remains in everyday lineup despite struggles Mullins agreed to a one-year, $6. 5 million contract with the Rays last season, with a $10 million option for 2027, according to Spotrac.