THE APEX TIMES
Tampa Bay exercised neither of the contract mutual options tied to its veteran starter and center fielder, choosing the buyout route and leaving both players to test the open market.
The Rays declined the mutual contract options for veteran right-hander Nick Martinez and center fielder Cedric Mullins, ending both players’ deals as free agents, the team announced on Friday.
Mutual options are structured so either side can opt out, and MLB’s standard expectation is that they will not be exercised by both parties. In Martinez’s case, the Rays instead paid a $4 million buyout rather than taking on a $20 million option for 2027.
Martinez’s 2026 production helped frame his market appeal. The 36-year-old finished the regular season with a 15-6 record and a 3.10 ERA across 180 innings in 31 starts, then allowed five runs in 16 innings over four postseason appearances (three starts).
Tampa Bay also declined Mullins’ mutual option, after the center fielder earned $7 million this season on a contract that included a $10 million mutual option for 2027 and a $500,000 buyout. The Rays will now decide next on-field center field options without Mullins under team control.
Mullins logged 502 plate appearances across 137 games and started 122 times in center field, while the Rays pointed to his role in outfield defense and routes as part of Tampa Bay’s broader improvements. Offensively, he hit.205 with a.628 OPS, 15 home runs, 48 RBIs and 21 stolen bases, and the postseason largely shifted his role to a bench appearance mix.
With those mutual options off the books, the Rays’ offseason roster planning continues, including their remaining internal decisions. The team still has a $20 million club option decision to make on Drew Rasmussen, and a $3.1 million club option decision on shortstop Taylor Walls.