The Rangers may not be done shopping for catching help just because Logan O'Hoppe is in the fold.
After landing O'Hoppe from the LA Angels, Chris Young and the Rangers sent the new catcher to Round Rock to start his Texas stint. That move left the door open for another addition behind the plate, and the Miami Marlins have now put former Rangers 2012 ninth-round pick Liam Hicks on the market.
Hicks is the kind of target that could solve more than one problem at once. He’s a catcher first, but he can also handle first base, which gives the Rangers a possible answer both to their depth issues behind the plate and to the need for a left-handed bat at first.
That versatility matters with Danny Jansen likely done for the year and Kyle Higashioka on the IL. Hicks would give Texas another natural catcher, but he could also slide to first against righties, especially those who work sliders for strikes on the outer half. He could even be used at DH, and his bat would also make him a useful late-game pinch-hit option.
The 27-year-old Canadian has put together a strong season in Miami. In part-time duty, he’s hitting .279/.358/.435 with 14 home runs and 60 RBIs. He has appeared in 37 games behind the plate, 26 at first base, and has also spent time as the DH.
His numbers suggest a real upgrade for Texas. Hicks has posted a 2.5 bWAR this season, and his left-handed bat has been much more dangerous against righties, where he owns an .885 OPS.
That fits neatly with Jake Burger, whose production at first base is stronger against left-handers. Burger has a .798 OPS against southpaws, while that number drops to .700 when he doesn’t have the platoon advantage.
There’s also a path where Hicks and O'Hoppe both fit on the roster, with Elias Diaz still valued for his defense even if his bat has gone quiet. In that setup, Hicks could give the Rangers a flexible, multi-position piece while O'Hoppe handles the catching load that Texas clearly still needs to address.
In Other News...
Rangers Deadline Buzz Suddenly Points To Another Outfield Bat
With the deadline approaching, the Dodgers have become a team to watch for outfield movement, and Alex Call has surfaced as a name drawing attention around the league. He has put together a modest season at the plate, but his appeal goes beyond the numbers, especially for clubs looking for a steady bat and some roster flexibility as July gives way to the final push before the cutoff.
The intrigue here is less about Calls production than about where he fits in Los Angeles bigger picture. The Dodgers have enough healthy outfield pieces to make his spot feel crowded, and if they decide to move him, it would be part of a broader effort to help elsewhere in the organization. For teams like Texas, the question is whether that kind of availability turns a secondary target into a real deadline option. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Face One Deadline Dilemma As Chris Young Keeps Shopping
With one of the American League Wests tightest margins still in play, the Rangers are not acting like a team that feels finished at the deadline. They have already addressed two obvious needs by adding to the bullpen and behind the plate, but president of baseball operations Chris Young has made it clear the club is still open to more moves if the right fit shows up before the clock runs out.
That leaves Texas weighing whether to keep chasing pitching depth or add another bat that can help in a few different spots. The names being floated all come with different levels of control and financial commitment, which is exactly the kind of detail that can shape a late-July decision for a contender trying to protect a slim division lead without boxing itself in for the long term. [Read more 🡒]