The Marlins’ deadline picture has gotten a lot more complicated in a hurry.
After looking buried in a 12-game losing streak, Miami has flipped the script by winning six of seven and climbing back to 58-55. That kind of surge doesn’t just change the standings - it changes the conversation. The Marlins are suddenly one of those awkward teams sitting on the fence, with the possibility they could pivot toward buying, selling, or doing a little of both.
That’s the backdrop for the latest trade chatter around Kyle Stowers and Liam Hicks. Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report that the first baseman/outfielder and the catcher/first baseman are being discussed “more actively” in trade scenarios than Otto Lopez or Xavier Edwards. Miami is said to be asking for a lot for Lopez, with the same likely true of Edwards, so a move involving Stowers or Hicks could be the more realistic path if the Marlins decide to deal from the roster.
Hicks is drawing plenty of attention because catching help is always in demand at this time of year. Rosenthal and Sammon report that the Rays and, as previously reported, the Red Sox have shown interest.
The Rangers also had interest earlier this year, though it’s unclear whether Hicks is still on their board after Texas landed Logan O’Hoppe from the Angels. The Yankees are not in that mix, with New York specifically looking for a right-handed hitting catcher.
For Miami, Hicks has turned into a useful player in his own right. The 2024 Rule 5 pick from the Tigers put together a respectable rookie year in 2025 and has taken another step forward this season.
Through 409 plate appearances, he’s hit 14 homers with a .282/.363/.432 line, good for a 119 wRC+. Most of that damage has come against right-handed pitching, and the gap between his .351 wOBA and .311 xwOBA points to middling hard-contact numbers.
Even so, the bat stands out at a position where offense is often thin, and Hicks has held his own defensively both at catcher and first base. Since Joe Mack was called up to the majors, Hicks has been used more often as Miami’s DH, while Stowers has handled first base most of the time.
Mack’s arrival also adds another layer here. MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola reports that the Marlins have had “internal discussions about” an extension for Mack after his big league career got off to a solid start.
That makes Hicks look like a bit of an overqualified backup catcher, especially since he and Stowers are both left-handed hitters and don’t fit perfectly together in a first base platoon. Still, Hicks can help as a DH and remains valuable insurance if Mack runs into the usual rookie bumps.
Stowers’ season took longer to get going. A hamstring injury pushed his debut back until April 18, and that likely played a part in his sluggish first six weeks.
Since June 1, though, he’s been rolling, hitting .249/.336/.540 with 13 homers in 218 plate appearances. The move to regular work at first base appears to have done him good.
The Marlins know Stowers well. He came to Miami from the Orioles in the major deadline deal two years ago that sent Trevor Rogers to Baltimore, with Connor Norby also heading to the Marlins in that swap.
Stowers won’t reach arbitration until this offseason and is under team control through 2029, while Hicks is controlled through the 2030 season. That means it would take a substantial return to pull either player out of Miami’s hands.
Still, with the deadline approaching and the Marlins suddenly back in the race, it makes sense for them to listen. And one team that could be especially relevant is Tampa Bay.
Peter Bendix spent years in the Rays’ front office before taking over as Marlins president of baseball operations in November 2023, and the two clubs have already lined up on multiple deals since then. Given the Rays’ long-running catching problem, Hicks would make plenty of sense as a controllable answer if Tampa Bay decides to push hard.
In Other News...
Marlins Deadline Approach Just Got More Complicated Than Fans Expected
The Marlins deadline picture is starting to take shape, and it is not centered on the biggest name in the room. Miami is still weighing whether to move pieces before the trade deadline, but the most active conversations appear to be around catcher Liam Hicks and first baseman-outfielder Kyle Stowers, two players who could draw interest from clubs looking for help without paying top-tier prices.
Hicks has already popped up in talks with teams such as the Rays and Red Sox, while the Yankees are not involved there. Sandy Alcantara remains the headline asset on paper, but Miami has made it clear he is not expected to be moved before the deadline, which leaves the Marlins sorting through a trickier middle ground than a simple teardown or a full stand pat. [Read more 🡒]
Marlins Just Made A Catcher Move Fans Will Want Explained
The Marlins have made a notable move behind the plate, sending catcher Liam Hicks to the Tampa Bay Rays in a deal that brings back three prospects: infielder Brayden Taylor, infielder Adrian Santana and right-hander Jacob Kisting. Hicks was under team control through 2030 and had been producing a strong 2026 season, so this is the kind of trade that naturally gets attention from a fan base trying to understand where the organization is headed next.
Miami is betting on upside in the return, with all three players sitting among Tampa Bays top 30 prospects before the deal. Hicks, meanwhile, gives the Rays a catcher they view as ready to handle a bigger role, while the Marlins add more young talent to a system that keeps trying to build depth and flexibility for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]