The Mets have a new center fielder to play between Brandon Nimmo and Juan Soto. Former All-Star Cedric Mullins joined the team via trade. The Orioles, meanwhile, picked up three relief pitchers in the deal.
The Mets’ Return
- OF Cedric Mullins (.229/.305/.433, 15 HR and 34 XBH over 91 GP)
Cedric Mullins was one of the best stories to come out of the 2015 MLB Draft. A 5’8” outfielder out of Campbell, Mullins was originally drafted as a switch-hitter before becoming a strictly left-handed hitter.
Mullins didn’t get regular time until the COVID-shortened 2020 season. One year later, the now-30-year-old joined the 30-30 club. He’s yet to replicate that incredible season. But, Mullins has still hit double-digits in home runs in each of the last four seasons.
A pull-heavy hitter who benefitted from the right field porch in Baltimore, Mullins isn’t a plus power hitter by any means. However, he does have the strength to do damage.
His biggest asset, however, is speed, which also gives him good range in the outfield.
The Orioles’ Return
- RP Raimon Gomez (4.63 ERA, 48 K over 35 IP (A and A+))
- RP Anthony Nunez (1.58 ERA, 60 K over 40 IP (A+ and AA))
- RP Chandler Marsh (2.57 ERA, 52 K over 42 IP (A and A+))
It’s an all-reliever return for the Orioles, as Baltimore picked up three relievers from the Mets’ organization.
The one baseball fans might have heard of the most is Raimon Gomez, the 23-year-old who set the Statcast MiLB record for hardest-recorded pitcher earlier this season. That pitch was a 105 MPH fastball — officially at 104.5 — on April 26. Gomez consistently sat in the 100-102 MPH range in his bullpen work. He’ll also work in a hard slider, as well as a curve.
Command, however, is an unsurprising concern. Gomez walked 25 over 35 innings this season.
Anthony Nunez, meanwhile, has been the most productive of the three. Nunez struck out 60 batters over 40 frames. He doesn’t throw that hard, at least compared to some of the other big relievers across the Majors and Minors, sitting in the low-to-mid-90s.
Nunez is an interesting case, as he’s the rare player who played in the Minors (drafted originally in 2019 by SD), went back to college and played in Division II, before returning to pro ball.
The other pitcher involved is Chandler Marsh. Four-seamer and two-seamer that sit in the mid-90s, along with a cutter, slider, and curveball.
Analysis
The Mets were linked to Luis Robert Jr. for potential outfield help but rather, get Mullins.
Another center fielder makes a lot of sense. Jose Siri is on the 60-day IL, while Tyrone Taylor has hit just .201/.258/.295 (.553 OPS) this season, as the Mets have relied on him with Siri out.
Mullins is an upgrade. But, it will be interesting to see how the bat plays in Citi Field. What he does have in his favor is a lot of protection around him.
It also likely is the final major add for the Mets this deadline, one that saw the team acquire relievers Tyler Rogers & Ryan Helsley, plus ex-Oriole Gregory Soto.
The Orioles, meanwhile, get more pitching help. Mullins was one of the better rental players available. However, with the aforementioned weaknesses in his game and the fact that he is a rental, the return was not going to be very significant.
Check out more of our MLB coverage, including a look at the David Bednar trade.