Image Source: MLB Trade Rumors
Liam Hicks is heading to the Tampa Bay Rays after Miami agreed to trade the catcher and first baseman on August 3, 2026. The deal, reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan and The Athletic’s Will Sammon, sends Hicks to Tampa Bay in exchange for a three-player prospect package headlined by former first-round pick Brayden Taylor.
The Marlins are also receiving shortstop Adrian Santana and right-handed pitcher Jacob Kisting. The move gives the Rays an offensive upgrade behind the plate while allowing Miami to sell high on one of its most productive hitters, even as the club remains close to the National League Wild Card race.
Liam Hicks Gives Rays a Powerful Offensive Upgrade
Tampa Bay has struggled to establish long-term stability at catcher in recent seasons. The organization has cycled through defense-first options, including Nick Fortes, whom the Rays acquired from Miami at last year’s trade deadline. Fortes has provided solid production this season, but Hicks offers a considerably stronger offensive profile.
The 27-year-old is hitting .282/.363/.432 with 14 home runs across 409 plate appearances. His plate discipline has been especially impressive. Hicks has walked in 9.8% of his plate appearances while striking out only 9.5% of the time, making him one of just five qualified hitters with more walks than strikeouts.
- .282 batting average
- .363 on-base percentage
- 14 home runs in 409 plate appearances
- 9.8% walk rate
- 9.5% strikeout rate
Hicks rarely chases pitches outside the strike zone and has shown an ability to make consistent contact within the zone. Those skills should give him a dependable on-base floor in a Tampa Bay lineup that has been top-heavy for much of the season.
There is, however, some concern about whether his power surge will continue. Hicks has below-average bat speed and ranks near the bottom of the league in average exit velocity and hard-hit rate. Before this season, he had never hit more than six home runs in either an MLB or minor league campaign.
Can Hicks Handle an Expanded Catching Role?
Defensively, Hicks is viewed as a capable but unspectacular catcher. Public receiving metrics rate him around league average as a pitch framer and blocker. His biggest weakness has been controlling the running game: he has thrown out only 12% of attempted base stealers during his career and owns a below-average pop time.
Still, the Rays appear willing to accept those limitations because of his bat. Tampa Bay has limited opportunities at first base and designated hitter, with Yandy Díaz and Jonathan Aranda expected to handle much of that playing time. As a result, Hicks should take on a near-everyday catching role during the stretch run.
Assuming the service-time rules remain unchanged under the next collective bargaining agreement, Tampa Bay will control Hicks for four and a half seasons. He will not be eligible for arbitration until the 2027-28 offseason, adding considerable value to the trade.
Marlins Land Three Intriguing Prospects
Miami’s return is led by Brayden Taylor, a left-handed-hitting infielder and Tampa Bay’s first-round selection in 2023. Taylor’s prospect stock dropped after a difficult 2025 season in Double-A, but he has responded with an excellent rebound campaign.
In 88 games, Taylor is hitting .284/.384/.513 with 17 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He has also posted a strong 13.4% walk rate. His age—24—and his status as a repeat Double-A player complicate the evaluation, but several prospect evaluators remain bullish on his potential.
Taylor could finish the season at Triple-A Jacksonville and enter spring training as a candidate for Miami’s starting third-base job. The Marlins have received limited production at the position, while former top prospect Connor Norby has struggled to secure the role.
Santana, 21, is a Miami-area native and a supplemental first-round pick from the same 2023 draft class. He offers plus defensive ability at shortstop and a contact-oriented offensive approach. In High-A, he is hitting .316/.381/.400 with 23 stolen bases and a remarkably low 9.5% strikeout rate.
Kisting is a 6-foot-5 right-hander who joined the Rays last offseason in the Eric Orze trade. The former 14th-round selection has enjoyed a breakout season at High-A Bowling Green, striking out 29% of opposing hitters while walking fewer than 6% and posting an earned run average below 2.00 across 86 innings.
What the Liam Hicks Trade Means for Both Teams
For Tampa Bay, the deal represents an aggressive effort to strengthen a contender before the trade deadline. Hicks brings offensive balance, club control and a potential long-term solution at catcher.
For Miami, the decision is more complicated. The Marlins are still within striking distance of a playoff spot, but the organization clearly valued the opportunity to acquire three controllable prospects for a player whose power may be difficult to sustain. Hicks’ emergence was also made more expendable by the presence of catching prospect Joe Mack.
The trade could reshape both clubs’ plans for the remainder of the season. Tampa Bay gets a proven bat for the stretch run, while Miami adds young talent at shortstop, third base and starting pitching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did the Rays acquire?
The Tampa Bay Rays acquired catcher and first baseman Liam Hicks from the Miami Marlins.
Who did the Marlins receive for Liam Hicks?
Miami received Brayden Taylor, Adrian Santana and Jacob Kisting in the three-player prospect package.
How is Liam Hicks performing in 2026?
Hicks is hitting .282/.363/.432 with 14 home runs, a 9.8% walk rate and a 9.5% strikeout rate in 409 plate appearances.
How long will the Rays control Hicks?
Under the current service-time structure, Tampa Bay is expected to control Hicks for four and a half seasons. He is not eligible for arbitration until the 2027-28 offseason.
