Extreme Makeover: Rebuilding a Broken Outfield (Part 2)

After Jonny DeLuca went down last season, the Rays were left with two rookies to fill his void in center field. This offseason, Tampa Bay made sure that wouldn’t be an issue by acquiring three additional center field options to go alongside DeLuca.

The Rays’ center field group was due for a serious makeover, as it ranked 21st in wRC+ (82), produced a lowly 1.2 fWAR (also 21st), and posted the 23rd-worst FanGraphs defensive value (-5.4).

Cedric Mullins

One of three free agents signed by Tampa Bay this offseason, Mullins enters 2026 looking to bounce back after a tougher 2025 by his standards. In his split time between the Orioles and the Mets, Mullins posted a 94 wRC+, his lowest mark since 2019. Amid a rough offensive season, Mullins recorded 0 defensive runs saved, his worst mark since his debut season in 2018. There may appear to be limited reasons for optimism about this addition, but I think that’s far from the truth.

Much of Mullins’ defensive struggles seemed to stem from his arm, as Statcast graded him at a -4 arm value (1st percentile). Generally, Mullins has hovered around the 30th percentile, and anywhere between -1 and -2 is usually where he lands annually, so this appears to be step one in getting him back to the 2+ win player he’s been in the past. The next step the Rays would like to see is his bat against right-handed pitching returning to the previous levels. Mullins’ 85 wRC+ versus righties was his worst mark since his brief 2019 season and down 35 points from 2024.

Mullins is a big piece of the Rays’ puzzle this upcoming season and should play a major role in lineup optimization if he can return to his prior performance against right-handed pitching. Jonny DeLuca should also benefit immensely from Mullins’ presence, as his usage and matchups can be fully optimized for success.

Jacob Melton

Acquired in the three-team trade that sent beloved Ray Brandon Lowe to Pittsburgh, Melton comes to Tampa Bay looking for an opportunity he didn’t receive in Houston. Melton spent most of the season bouncing between Triple-A Sugar Land and Houston, which made it increasingly difficult to acclimate to big-league pitching. He spent roughly a month and a half on the major-league roster yet accumulated only 78 plate appearances, making it incredibly difficult to gain any sort of comfort.

Melton’s skillset is extremely exciting, and he has already received rave reviews for his power. His new manager even said, “He hits the ball incredibly hard. Off the bat, he hits the ball like Yandy and Cami do — that hard.” Cash’s comment is backed up by the data: in Triple-A, Melton recorded a 113 mph max exit velocity (60th MLB percentile) and a 56.1% hard-hit rate (97th percentile). The concern surrounding Melton’s profile will always be his hit tool, but in Triple-A he made substantial strides, increasing his zone-contact rate by a full percentage point and, perhaps most importantly, cutting his out-of-zone swing rate by 8.6%.

The upside with Melton is tantalizing, and it’s not much of a secret that the best version of this Tampa Bay outfield group features him in some capacity. The blend of plus power, speed, and defense is something this group otherwise lacks, and his ability to provide that balance will be a huge factor in determining the Rays’ fate.

Jonny DeLuca

The lone returner on this list, DeLuca, had difficulty staying on the field last season, suffering a multitude of nagging injuries. Although an extremely small sample size, his 2025 was promising, as he posted 0.6 fWAR in just 59 plate appearances.

DeLuca has already developed a strong defensive track record in the majors, accumulating 9 OAA in his brief big-league career. The bat has also progressed and become fairly reliable, flashing plus zone-contact rates and solid swing decisions. Offense will never be his calling card, but his floor is high enough to avoid being a detriment.

DeLuca’s availability will always be a major question, especially after last season, but the Rays have built a situation around him that should help keep him healthy. His skillset complements Mullins tremendously, providing no drop-off defensively or on the basepaths while allowing both players to see optimal matchups.

Victor Mesa Jr.

Mesa Jr. was the Rays’ most recent addition and should provide quality organizational depth. He is coming off his best professional season at the plate, posting a career-high 136 wRC+ in Triple-A. His glove routinely receives strong reviews, grading out as a plus defender from most prospect outlets. Obviously, the goal is not to have Mesa Jr. on the active major-league roster, but at worst, his ability to run and defend at a plus level provides a stable floor behind the regulars.

The Rays overhaul of the group, from not only a skill standpoint, but the amount of depth they’ve added, is extremely refreshing to see. The ceiling has been raised immensely by the addition of Melton, who has received strong reviews from the organization as previously mentioned. The primary platoon of Mullins and DeLuca will immensely raise the floor, providing steady offensive production vs their strong side platoons, and on the base paths. The defensive overhaul, especially at Tropicana field will help the Rays pitching staff maximize their production as well.