Conine, Hicks put Deadline rumors aside while lifting Fish

NEW YORK – With less than 48 hours until Monday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline, the market remains murky with so many clubs still in the postseason picture.

The Marlins are no different, as Griffin Conine and Javier Sanoja homered and Liam Hicks drove in a pair of runs in a 6-2 victory over the Mets on Saturday at Citi Field.

Miami (57-55) has won five of six since snapping a franchise-record 12-game skid. With the victory, the club also moved within one game of the Phillies, who were playing in Baltimore, for the final National League Wild Card spot.

“You just deal with it as best as you can,” Hicks said. “Obviously, you're going to hear some stuff, but luckily, this team's just focused on winning right now, so it helps a lot when you're a team that knows that you've got a chance to go to the playoffs. You're not really focused on everyone selling and all that stuff because we really think we've got a chance. That's good coming to the ballpark and having that on your mind.”

The Marlins capitalized on a miscue to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Otto Lopez reached on shortstop Francisco Lindor’s fielding error, moved to second on Heriberto Hernández’s groundout and scored on Hicks’ RBI single.

Hicks, who reached four times on Saturday, got the start at catcher to give rookie Joe Mack a breather. The 27-year-old Hicks has been the subject of trade rumors – and for good reason.

Among qualifying Major Leaguers whose primary position is catcher, Hicks entered Saturday ranked as follows: .280 average (first), 9.5% strikeout rate (first), 60 RBIs (tied for second), 9.5% walk rate (third), .358 on-base percentage (third), 118 wRC+ (tied for fourth), .432 slugging percentage (fifth) and 14 homers (seventh).

While Hicks’ power has been missing of late – just one home run since June 13 – he is still getting on base (.364) as the club’s primary designated hitter.

“That's definitely something that you automatically think about,” Hicks said. “Obviously, try not to, but an 0-fer when you're DHing is much tougher mentally than when you're able to contribute in the field, especially behind the plate. Your main goal behind the plate is to help the team win there. You can go 0-fer, but as long as the team wins, you feel like you did something. So it is a little bit tough.”

When right-hander Tyler Phillips permitted a leadoff single in the sixth, lefty John King – another trade candidate – took over and recorded three outs on six pitches to maintain the four-run cushion.

King, who missed time with a left lateral ankle sprain earlier this month, lowered his ERA to 2.45 with his third scoreless appearance in four outings since his return from the IL.

“He's been solid really in any capacity I've chosen to use him this year,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “He's always ready to pitch. He's been very reliable. He'll take the ball whenever, and I think it's as much he probably epitomizes what a great teammate is and the unselfishness. Because if we need an inning picked up to save some other guys, John's always willing to do that, and he's also collected a lot of really big outs for us.”

With the Marlins leading 4-2 in the sixth, Conine rocketed his 10th blast of the season in just his 45th game. Conine, whose name has also come up in Deadline rumors, sent righty Daniel Duarte’s first-pitch sweeper to the second deck in right. Hicks later added a second RBI single.

The corner-outfield situation is crowded with the return of Owen Caissie (.861 OPS since May 1) from the injured list. Conine is batting .333 with two doubles, seven homers and 11 RBIs over his last 21 games, while Heriberto Hernández is tied for the team lead with 16 homers.

Things could be resolved by the Deadline based on the names circulating in rumors. If Hicks were to be dealt, for example, that would open up reps at DH for a rotation of Conine, Hernández and Caissie. Another possibility is one of those outfielders being traded and serving the same purpose. Or everyone stays put and Miami has a surplus of potent bats.

“It's all speculation and hearsay,” Conine said. “You can't get too wrapped up in it. At the same time, take a second to enjoy playing with these guys because you never know, and especially [since] we're a team [where] usually some moves are going to be done. You never know who it's going to be. So, just taking time to have gratitude for playing with these guys and the clubhouse we have is awesome. No one wants to see it change, but the reality is it probably will.”