The Miami Marlins traded catcher/first baseman Liam Hicks to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday for three minor leaguers: Double-A infielder Brayden Taylor, right-handed pitcher Jacob Kisting, and infielder Adrian Santana. Hicks, 27, has 14 home runs this season, a .795 OPS, and walks more often than he strikes out. The Rays, who lead the American League East by 2.5 games, have hit just 111 home runs this year and rank 25th in MLB; Junior Caminero accounts for 30 of those. Tampa Bay adds right-handed thump and a catcher who will not be eligible for arbitration until 2028. Miami sent one of its most reliable hitters despite sitting only 1.5 games out of a playoff spot. The Marlins received a 2023 first-round pick in Brayden Taylor plus two additional prospects as they try to convert a volatile season into a postseason push.
