Baltimore Orioles Star Cedric Mullins Is At A Career Crossroads| He’s The Perfect MLBbro For A Championship Contender

Baltimore Orioles Star Cedric Mullins Is At A Career Crossroads| He’s The Perfect MLBbro For A Championship Contender

by | Apr 16, 2022 | THE LEAD OFF

Although Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins, aka CM Storm, burst onto the scene with an All-Star campaign in 2021, he and the franchise are already at a crossroads.

With the Orioles torn between retooling their farm system and building around their current All-Star caliber cornerstone players, MLBbro Cedric Mullins finds himself stuck in the middle.

With Baltimore coming off a 5th-place finish in the AL East in 2021 along with an equally dismal start to 2022, combined with their unwillingness to increase their payroll, Mullins could find himself roaming center field for another franchise by the trade deadline.

A Rising Star

The mere mention of trading Mullins should be laughable as last year was the best statistical season of his young career. It was the first full season he was able to play due to the shortened 2020 season and him splitting time between the Majors in minors in 2019.

He finished 2021 ninth in AL MVP voting with a .291 batting average, 30 HRs, and 59 RBI. Mullins was also the only player in 2021 to join the 30/30 club with 30 stolen bases as well. Mullins was one of, if not, the best leadoff hitters in the Majors last year.

Cedric Mullins Knocking On Door Of Exclusive 30-30 Club | mlbbro.com



Trade or No Trade, Mullins will Excel

With the rest of the AL East constantly adding talented players, the Baltimore Orioles would be wise to refrain from moving him. At age 27, Mullins is on the verge of his prime and is the type of offensive catalyst that can keep pace with the other stars in the American League. But it was made evident this offseason that several other teams were interested in his skills. The Yankees were one of the most notable teams to inquire about his availability.

Whether he is traded or not could affect him in several ways. If traded to a winning franchise, he could be elevated to another level. The production Mullins delivered at the plate in 2021 was enough for a top 10 MVP finish even playing for a team that was well below .500.

Joining a team in playoff contention could raise him to top 5 MVP consideration.

Cedric Mullins Is An All-Star | Period, End of Story | mlbbro.com

Mullins Vital to Future of Orioles

The future of Cedric Mullins and the Orioles are both in the air at the current moment. Mullins spent most of the winter wondering if he would remain in Baltimore.

Many teams were interested in the services of the versatile outfielder and asked about the price needed to acquire him.

The Orioles were not conservative in their demands for hefty returns for Mullins. They are aware that he is a young star and will be under club control through the 2025 season.

If the Orioles decide to trade Mullins, the team could receive several prospects to bolster their farm system going forward. In contrast, by not trading Mullins, the Orioles could resign him, and form a one-two punch with Adley Rutschman to carry the team as it continues its climb out of the AL East cellar.


Slow Start, With a Brightside

Cedric Mullins has gotten off to a slow start in 2022. The Orioles are hopeful that he returns to his 2021 form soon.

He was the team leader in most offensive categories last year, with 175 hits, 91 runs, 72 XBH, 59 walks and 30 stolen bases. Mullins also led the team in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS.

Baltimore will still do its due diligence and vet trade offers for Mullins. With at least three years to be under team control after 2022, Mullins must continue to post MVP caliber numbers to earn significant contracts via arbitration.

Maintaining his All-Star status will either convince the Orioles to commit to him, or entice another team to trade for him, thus choosing to make him a part of their future.

Whether in Baltimore or with another franchise, Mullins looks poised to be at an All-Star level for years to come.

Cedric Mullins On Verge Of 30-30 Club, Superstardom

Cedric Mullins On Verge Of 30-30 Club, Superstardom

by | Sep 19, 2021 | THE LEAD OFF

Cedric Mullins has been one of the few good things about the Baltimore Orioles, and Saturday afternoon he once again showed you why he remains a lone bright spot in their season.

The Orioles lost 9-3 to the Boston Red Sox, But after going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, the young star crept closer to joining the exclusive “30/30 Club”.

Now entrance into the 30-30 club would be cause for celebration any year, but with the Orioles in the midst of another 100 loss season, such an accomplishment gives the ballclub hope for the future.

“When you have a season like this, you are looking for bright spots and things to build on for the future,” manager Brandon Hyde told MLB.com. “Looking for cornerstone guys that, when the team does get competitive and does get good, that you can surround them with. The right kind of players, veteran players, the right pitching staff. Cedric Mullins is playing like that, there’s not a doubt about it. Playing like an All-Star.”

Indeed Mullins has flashed all the tools you would want your cornerstone franchise player to possess, but the exclusivity of the 30-30 club signifies just how high his ceiling is.

Once he connects on his 30th bomb of the season, Mullins will be the 41st player to join the 30-30 club, and the 18th Black player to join this illustrious group.

First accomplished in 1922 by Ken Williams, once Willie Mays cracked the club in 1956, the brothers dominated with Mays (two), Hank Aaron, Bobby Bonds (five) and Tommy Harper recording the next nine 30-30 seasons.

1987 was a special season for the MLBbro’s on the base paths and at the plate, as Black legends Joe Carter, Eric Davis and Darryl Strawberry compiled three of the four 30-30 seasons recorded that year.

Willie Mays and Bobby Bonds were the only two players in MLB history to accomplish the feat in back-to-back seasons, that was until his son, Home Run King Barry Bonds went on to do it three straight times from 95-97, which helped him match his fathers all time total of five.

Of the 17 Black ballplayers to join this elite group, there are five who have gone on to win League MVP Awards as well as carry their teams to a World Series Championship.

If Cedric Mullins has his way, the Baltimore Orioles will return to their winning ways of the past sooner than people expect. And If the O’s keep him around he’s sure to be a cornerstone of their rebirth.

Cedric Mullins Knocking On Door Of Exclusive 30-30 Club

Cedric Mullins Knocking On Door Of Exclusive 30-30 Club

by | Sep 9, 2021 | THE THREE SPOT

That age old question, “If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?”  was made for Cedric Mullins of the Baltimore Orioles.

This MLBbro makes noise for the Old Birds, but nobody hears him due to their putrid season.

 

 

Last week, the 26-year-old became just the third player in O’s history to hit 25 home runs while also stealing 25 bases in a single season, joining senior bros Don Baylor, who stole 32 bases while launching 25 long balls in 1975, and Reggie Jackson who followed suit in 1976. 

Coincidentally, Baylor was 26 like Mullins during his claim to fame as the first member of the franchise 25/25 club.

Baylor finished top 20 in the MVP bracket, laying the foundation before acquiring the award in 1979.

 

Like Baylor, Reggie Jackson, during his lone season with the old birds, became the second player enshrined in franchise history when he swiped 28 bags (the most he ever stole in his illustrious career) while banging 27 moon shots in 1976, as mentioned earlier.

Jackson finished 16th in MVP votes during that campaign.

 

 

Because he reached all his original goals, Mullins has a different goal on the horizon: to become the first player in the franchise’s history to go 30 for 30 like an ESPN documentary.

CM Storm hit his 27th homer of the year Tuesday night as the Orioles took down the Kansas City Royals 7-3 inside Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

 

In his last three games, the newly lamented All-Star is 6-for-13 with four RBI and two homers.

In 518 at-bats, he’s accounted for 159 hits, 80 runs, 54 RBI, 33 doubles, and 26 bases on balls for the season.

With 25 games remaining, he only needs four stolen bases and three more home runs to join the exclusive 30-30 club.

It is within reach, which will keep the fans engaged down the stretch.

But for personal reasons, unlike his predecessors, if achieved, could he also be awarded the American League MVP at seasons’ end even with his team having a losing record?