Orioles' secret weapon is righty reliever Mets surely regret trading for Cedric Mullins

Anthony Nunez has emerged as a key part of the Orioles' bullpen after being acquired from the Mets last year.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 5:42pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher, with sharp planes of navy, green, and orange intersecting to create a dynamic, abstract representation of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a relief pitcher's explosive delivery captures the raw energy and unpredictability of the Orioles' secret bullpen weapon.NYC Today

The Baltimore Orioles made a trade deadline deal with the New York Mets last July, sending outfielder Cedric Mullins to the Mets in exchange for three right-handed pitchers, including Anthony Nunez. Nunez has since emerged as a secret weapon in the Orioles' bullpen, with a strong start to the 2026 season that has the Mets regretting the trade.

Why it matters

The Orioles have been rebuilding, and acquiring young, promising pitchers like Nunez through trades is a key part of that process. Meanwhile, the Mets are still trying to find stability in their bullpen after losing closer Edwin Diaz in the offseason, making the Mullins trade look even worse in hindsight.

The details

In the July 2025 trade deadline deal, the Orioles sent Cedric Mullins to the Mets in exchange for Nunez, Raimon Gomez, and Chandler Marsh. Nunez, a 24-year-old right-handed reliever, has been impressive so far in 2026, posting a 3.60 ERA in 5 innings pitched. He didn't allow a run in 5 spring training outings and is still developing as a major leaguer, but has shown a lot of potential.

  • The Orioles traded Cedric Mullins to the Mets at the 2025 MLB trade deadline.
  • Nunez has made 5 appearances for the Orioles so far in the 2026 MLB season.

The players

Anthony Nunez

A 24-year-old right-handed relief pitcher acquired by the Orioles from the Mets in the 2025 trade deadline deal that sent Cedric Mullins to New York.

Cedric Mullins

An outfielder who was traded from the Orioles to the Mets at the 2025 MLB trade deadline.

Ryan Helsley

The Orioles' closer, who is taking over the role after the Mets lost Edwin Diaz in the offseason.

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What they’re saying

“As the Orioles try to build their bullpen around closer Ryan Helsley, Anthony Nunez is going to be a name to watch for Craig Albernaz's club.”

— Tim Kelly, Bleacher Report Writer

What’s next

The Orioles will continue to rely on Anthony Nunez as a key part of their bullpen as they look to build around young talent and compete in the AL East.

The takeaway

The Orioles' trade of Cedric Mullins to the Mets has proven to be a savvy move, as they acquired a promising young reliever in Anthony Nunez who has emerged as a secret weapon in their bullpen. Meanwhile, the Mets are still trying to find stability in their relief corps, making the trade look even worse in hindsight.