The Tampa Bay Rays have finalized a deal to acquire catcher MLB.com from the Miami Marlins, according to MLB.com. The trade, completed before Monday’s trade deadline, provides the Rays with a potential long-term solution behind the plate.
Trade Details and Prospect Cost
To acquire the 27-year-old Hicks, the Rays surrendered three of their Top 30 Prospects, as ranked by MLB Pipeline. The Marlins received:
- Brayden Taylor: An infielder and former first-round pick from the 2023 Draft (Rays’ No. 16 prospect).
- Jacob Kisting: A right-hander and 2023 first-round pick (Rays’ No. 26 prospect).
- Adrian Santana: A 21-year-old switch-hitting shortstop and 2023 first-round pick (Rays’ No. 27 prospect).
The move follows a pattern of aggressive deadline activity for Tampa Bay. The club also acquired right-handed reliever Tyler Wells from the Baltimore Orioles for Michael Forret on Monday, and right-hander Freddy Peralta from the New York Mets on Sunday.
Hicks’ Offensive Profile and Value
Hicks is a left-handed hitter who is under club control through the 2030 season and will not be eligible for salary arbitration until 2028. After a rookie season in 2025 where he batted .247/.346/.346 with six home runs in 119 games, Hicks improved his power output this year. In 101 games, he slashed .282/.363/.432 with 14 home runs and 62 RBIs across 409 plate appearances.
Analysis from The Athletic highlights a significant platoon split in Hicks’ game: while he has a career .281/.368/.427 slash line against right-handed pitchers, he has struggled against lefties, posting a career .199/.301/.237 line. Despite this, he has demonstrated a disciplined approach, recording 40 walks and only 39 strikeouts in 409 plate appearances this season.
Hicks’ availability in Miami was influenced by the arrival of catcher Joe Mack, a top prospect who made Hicks expendable. Miami originally acquired Hicks as a Rule 5 pick from the Detroit Tigers in December 2024.
Roster Impact and Platoon Strategy
Manager Kevin Cash stated that Hicks is going to catch, and he’ll catch a lot,
and will work in tandem with right-handed hitter Nick Fortes, another former Marlins catcher. Hicks replaces MLB.com, who was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a separate deal that brought outfielder Jack Suwinski and international bonus pool space to Tampa Bay.
Because Feduccia was traded before Hicks became active, the Rays called up catcher Kenny Piper from Double-A Montgomery for his Major League debut during a 13-9 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night. Hicks is expected to join the team at Coors Field on Tuesday.
Beyond catching, the Rays may utilize Hicks as a backup at first base for Jonathan Aranda or as a substitute for DH Yandy Diaz. Hicks previously spent time on the injured list in June due to lower back strain, though he batted .292 in his final 28 games with Miami.
Historical Context for Rays Catching
The acquisition of Hicks marks the second summer the Rays have traded for a big-league catcher from the Marlins. The position has been a recurring area of instability for the franchise. Over the last three seasons, the Rays have cycled through numerous catchers, including:
- Nick Fortes: Acquired from the Marlins.
- Hunter Feduccia: Acquired last year and recently traded to the Dodgers.
- Alex Jackson: Acquired from Milwaukee at the 2023 deadline.
- Rob Brantly: Signed to a minor league deal in 2024.
- Logan Driscoll: Acquired from the Padres.
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