Should the Colorado Rockies be looking at Baltimore Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins?

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported on Friday that the Baltimore Orioles are making outfielder Cedric Mullins available in a trade. Heyman notes that the asking price is “extremely high” but there undoubtedly will be plenty of teams interested due to a need for outfielders. As Colorado Rockies fans well know by now, the Rockies are in need of outfield help.

The Colorado Rockies should be looking at how Baltimore Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins would fit for them

Cedric Mullins, 27, was one of a few glimmering rays of hope for the Baltimore Orioles in 2021 as the Orioles finished with a 100+ loss season for the third time in as many eligible seasons. Mullins was MLB’s only 30-30 player in 2021 and he also was the Orioles only All-Star and won a Silver Slugger. That and his controllability will attract some teams, like the Colorado Rockies.

Mullins never played more than 48 games in a season at the MLB level before 2021. But in 2021, he had a phenomenal year as he hit .291/.360/.518 for the Orioles with 30 homers, 59 RBI, and an OPS+ of 135. In addition to the All-Star and Silver Slugger Awards and came in 9th in AL MVP voting after posting a 5.7 rWAR season.

If Mullins can post those numbers in 2022, there will be plenty of teams that will be interested and plenty of teams that should be interested in that production for years to come. Heyman noted some teams like the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants as two of a few teams that could be interested themselves. Mullins would not become a free agent for another four seasons so the cost will be steep, as it should be.

The Colorado Rockies don’t have a ton of prospects to trade them (or prospects that they are willing to trade) but the Rockies need to, at least, reach out to the Baltimore Orioles to gauge what the asking price is for Cedric Mullins because he could be an upgrade for the Rockies for years to come.