The Miami Marlins are sitting in a spot few people expected them to reach this season, and that has turned their roster into one of the more intriguing pieces on the trade market. At 52-42, they’re in the thick of the NL East race and very much alive in the postseason picture.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Miami is planning to act like a buyer at the deadline. The club intends to keep Sandy Alcantara and is looking for help at third base, in the bullpen, and in the starting rotation.
But Rosenthal also says the Marlins may have a useful trade chip in catcher Liam Hicks, a player who has boosted his value with real production at the plate.
"One Marlins player likely to draw trade interest is catcher Liam Hicks, who has 13 homers and an .817 OPS while also playing first base and DH," Rosenthal writes.
Hicks, 27 and a left-handed hitter, has put together a strong season. He’s batting .286 with an .817 OPS, 13 home runs and 2.3 bWAR, and that kind of offensive line is going to get attention from teams looking for help behind the plate.
That said, Miami may not move him just to move him. Rosenthal also noted, "They could trade off their major-league roster to protect their farm system, sources say." If the Marlins decide Hicks is the piece that can bring back the right return, that could be the route they take.
The Yankees stand out as one possible fit, since they need offense from the catcher spot and Hicks would give them that. A deal with the Rays would also make sense on paper, given their need at catcher.
If Miami does shop Hicks, the asking price should be steep. He’s under club control through the 2030 MLB season, and that gives the Marlins plenty of leverage. Peter Bendix would be justified in pushing for a strong package in return.
One possible target mentioned is Carlos Lagrange, a hard-throwing pitching prospect, though nothing is set there. The broader point is simple: a catcher producing like Hicks will draw interest, and there should be no shortage of teams calling.
Miami also has some depth at the position, with Joe Mack, Brian Navarreto, and Augustin Ramirez all available as catcher options. That gives the Marlins another reason to at least consider moving Hicks if the right deal comes together this summer.
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