Cedric Mullins is becoming a name to watch for the New York Mets on the trade market this summer.
Though the Mets have one of Major League Baseball's deepest lineups, center field is one position that looks a little bit iffy. Tyrone Taylor's bat is fringy, Jose Siri is still out indefinitely, and Jeff McNeil still barely has any experience at the position.
There are still two months for the Mets to determine if an upgrade in center is necessary, but if that's the conclusion they come to, Mullins makes a ton of sense. He's a steady bat and a reliable defender at a premium position, and he's a rental on a last-place team.
But would the Mets be the only suitor for Mullins? One baseball analyst believes the race could be down to New York and a National League East rival.
During a recent episode of "Locked On Mets," host Ryan Finkelstein speculated that the Mets and Philadelphia Phillies could be the two teams bidding on Mullins at the Jul. 31 trade deadline.
"Cedric Mullins is going to be moved," Finkelstein said. "He's a rental, and the Orioles are not in a position to extend him the qualifying offer after the season. So they have to trade him.
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"The question is, who's going to be in the market for Cedric Mullins? And the two teams that jump out are the Mets and the Phillies. Both teams could use another center fielder, particularly a left-handed center fielder."
Mullins, 30, has a .232/.324/.448 slash line, and is on pace for a 30-homer season. His defense in center field passes the eye test, but has regressed this season according to the advanced metrics. He's not the All-Star he was in 2021, but he's a very good major leaguer.
If the Mets don't want Mullins, someone else will. And it will be fascinating to see whether or not it becomes an NL East showdown for his services.
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