DENVER -- The Rays got their catcher.
Tampa Bay may have found a solution to the club’s long-running search for a long-term option behind the plate, as the Rays on Monday finalized a deal to acquire catcher Liam Hicks from the Marlins for three prospects.
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The Rays addressed one major need on Sunday by acquiring starter Freddy Peralta from the Mets, and reeling in Hicks answered two more pressing questions they faced heading into Monday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. In one move, they managed to improve behind the plate while adding a potent bat to their lineup.
TRADE DETAILS
Rays receive: C/1B Liam Hicks
Marlins receive: INF Brayden Taylor, RHP Jacob Kisting, SS Adrian Santana
As they did in the Peralta trade, the Rays found a way to upgrade their Major League roster by dealing from the incredible depth of their Minor League system rather than parting with their top-ranked prospects.
But the move still came at a cost, as the Rays gave up three of their Top 30 Prospects, according to MLB Pipeline, including their top two picks in the 2023 Draft: infielder Brayden Taylor (who was the Rays’ No. 16 prospect), right-hander Jacob Kisting (No. 26) and shortstop Adrian Santana (No. 27).
The Rays viewed it as a worthwhile haul for Hicks, a 27-year-old who is under club control through the 2030 season and won’t be eligible for salary arbitration until 2028. The left-handed hitter seems like a natural partner for right-handed-hitting catcher Nick Fortes, another former Marlins backstop.
Drafted by the Rangers out of Arkansas State in 2021, then dealt to the Tigers ahead of the 2024 Trade Deadline, Hicks has long been a target for the Rays. They hoped to select him in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft, even though he’d never played above the Double-A level, but the Marlins got to him first.
Hicks put together a solid rookie season for Miami in 2025, batting .247/.346/.346 with six homers in 119 games, then took his offensive game to another level this year. He added power to his contact-oriented offensive profile and became arguably the Marlins’ most reliable run producer, slashing .282/.363/.432 with 14 homers and 62 RBIs in 101 games before the trade.
With the Marlins, Hicks split his time at catcher, first base and designated hitter. With rookie catcher Joe Mack and first baseman Kyle Stowers, Miami mostly pushed Hicks into DH duties this season to keep his bat in the lineup.
But the Rays are set at DH with Yandy Díaz, and they have Jonathan Aranda at first base. Their greater need is behind the plate. Fortes has been a solid all-around contributor, batting .278 with a .705 OPS, while left-handed-hitting Hunter Feduccia has produced a .234/.306/.340 slash line.