Marlins get 5 prospects in exchange for Hicks, Garrett

NEW YORK -- The Marlins have so far made two trades ahead of Monday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline.

Miami sent Liam Hicks for three of Tampa Bay’s Top 30 prospects: infielder Brayden Taylor (No. 16), right-hander Jacob Kisting (No. 26) and shortstop Adrian Santana (No. 27).

The Marlins also dealt left-hander Braxton Garrett to the Cubs for two of their Top 30 prospects: first baseman/outfielder Jonathon Long (No. 10) and right-hander Jace Beck (No. 28).

Leading the haul for Hicks is 24-year-old Taylor, the 19th overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft who struggled at Double-A in 2025 (.575 OPS), then boosted his stock again with strong showings at the Arizona Fall League (.872 OPS) and at Double-A (.897 OPS) this season by cutting down on his swing-and-miss. According to MLB Pipeline’s scouting report, Taylor is a 20/20 threat.

The left-handed-hitting Taylor has primarily played third base, which is a position lacking depth in Miami’s system. He also is Rule 5 Draft-eligible this offseason, so he will be added to the 40-man roster then.

TRADE DETAILS
Rays receive: C/1B Liam Hicks
Marlins receive: INF Brayden Taylor (Rays' No. 16 prospect), RHP Jacob Kisting (No. 26) and SS Adrian Santana (No. 27)

Kisting recently joined the Rays’ Top 30 list and was considered one of the biggest movers in a strong farm system thanks to a 1.67 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP, 10 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 18 games (16 starts) at High-A.

Per MLB Pipeline’s report, the 6-foot-5 righty features a low three-quarters slot and is a strike thrower who sits in the low 90s with his fastball. Kisting sports reverse splits, with a changeup with higher spin rates and big horizontal movement and a low-spin splitter with more drop.

Rounding out the trio is the athletic Santana, the 31st overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and a local kid out of Doral Academy.

According to MLB Pipeline’s scouting report, Santana boasts 60-grade run, arm and field tools (20-80 scale). In his second taste of the High-A level, the recently turned 21-year-old has a .316/.381/.400 slash line with nearly as many walks (19) as strikeouts (23) in 51 games. Santana has always hit for average and can run; the test will be continuing to work on his 5-foot-11, 155-pound build to add more impact (11 extra-base hits, including three homers) at the plate.

This trade marks the latest connection between president of baseball operations Peter Bendix and his former organization. Hicks becomes the second catcher in as many years to go from Miami to Tampa Bay ahead of the Deadline, joining Nick Fortes. Matthew Etzel, who has a .768 OPS at Triple-A Jacksonville this season but is not on the 40-man roster, was the return for Fortes.

The Marlins moved the bat-first Hicks, whom they selected in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft, with his value at its highest and because he was blocked at two positions. Hicks was Miami’s most consistent run-producing threat, adding pop to his lefty bat that often sought out hits rather than power. In 101 games with Miami, the 27-year-old delivered a slash line of .282/.363/.432 with 14 homers and 62 RBIs.

But Hicks had taken a backseat to Gold Glove-caliber rookie Joe Mack, who is considered the franchise’s backstop for the foreseeable future since his Major League debut in May. Hicks also was the backup to Kyle Stowers since his transition from the outfield to first base, meaning he primarily served as the designated hitter to keep his bat in the lineup.

For the second time since January, Miami sent over a starting pitcher to Chicago. After dealing Edward Cabrera for rookie outfielder Owen Caissie and two other prospects in January, the Marlins acquired another two prospects for Garrett, who turns 29 on Wednesday.

TRADE DETAILS
Cubs receive: LHP Braxton Garrett
Marlins receive: 1B/OF Jonathon Long (No. 10) and RHP Jace Beck (No. 28).

In his return from a second Tommy John surgery in December 2024, Garrett didn't make the Marlins' Opening Day roster out of camp but had been one of the better pitchers at the Triple-A level, with a 2.90 ERA over 77 2/3 innings.

However, the finesse pitcher struggled in his two big league starts by walking eight batters and giving up seven runs in 4 1/3 innings, and he didn’t receive another promotion after May.

In 67 career games (65 starts), Garrett had a 4.16 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP for the Marlins, who took him seventh overall of the 2017 MLB Draft.