Rays Decline Mutual Options on Nick Martinez and Cedric Mullins
The Tampa Bay Rays announced they have declined mutual options on right-hander Nick Martinez and outfielder Cedric Mullins, making both players free agents. The decision concludes a one-year agreement for Mullins featuring a $7.5MM guarantee broken down into a $7MM salary and a $500K buyout on a $10MM mutual option.
Rays Use Buy-Low Framework for Mullins
Mutual options rarely trigger across Major League Baseball, with more than a decade passing since both a club and a player exercised one simultaneously. Contracts typically utilize these clauses as deferred salary mechanisms where the buyout payment is deferred to the end of the season, allowing front offices to spread out guaranteed commitments. The Rays initially brought in Mullins on a buy-low framework following a difficult 2025 campaign with the Baltimore Orioles.
Performance metrics during his tenure in Baltimore showed a .216/.299/.391 slash line with 17 home runs, a 10% walk rate, and a below-average .253 batting average on balls in play. His 2026 platform season in Tampa Bay brought mixed results. While his defensive metrics remained elite—credited with six Defensive Runs Saved, 11 Outs Above Average, and a Fielding Run Value grade of 10—his offensive output declined further. His batting average on balls in play dropped to .227, his walk rate slid to 8.6%, and his home run total fell to 15 over the course of the 2026 schedule, resulting in a .205/.284/.344 line and a 76 wRC+.
Future Outfield Depth in Tampa Bay
With Mullins entering the open market alongside Martinez—who previously turned down his end of the mutual option—the Rays must restructure their roster. Jonny DeLuca remains the primary option in center field for Tampa Bay. Jacob Melton, acquired via the Brandon Lowe trade, stands ready to compete for playing time assuming health permits, though injuries limited Melton to just 50 appearances during the 2026 season. Despite a quiet offensive year, Mullins enters a free agent class lacking depth at center field, positioning him among the more viable defensive alternatives available to clubs seeking outfield stabilization.
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