Rays get their catcher in Liam Hicks

The Tampa Bay Rays have struggled to find a viable option behind the plate for virtually all of their franchise history. That quest may finally have come to an end.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that the Rays have acquired catcher/first baseman Liam Hicks from the Miami Marlins. In exchange, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that infielders Brayden Taylor and Adrian Santana and pitcher Jacob Kisting are heading to Miami.

Hicks had broken out over the first half of the 2026 season. He posted a .282/.363/.432 batting line over his 409 plate appearances entering Monday, hitting 14 homers and nine doubles. Hicks has split time between first and behind the plate, where his 14.0 percent caught-stealing rate is below league average (23.9 percent).

Rays improve lineup by adding Liam Hicks

A former first-round pick, Taylor was ranked as the Rays' 16th-best prospect, per MLB.com. He has made several adjustments to his swing this season, which, coupled with his strong batting eye, have allowed him to tap into his power potential more often. He has solid speed and is an excellent defensive option who can slot around the infield, although he has primarily appeared at third this season.

Neither Kisting nor Santana was on the Rays' top-30 prospect lists. Kisting has a five-pitch mix headlined by a pair of changeups — a more traditional changeup and a split-change hybrid. A low-90s fastball, curve and slider round out his arsenal. He is expected to develop plus command, which, coupled with his high pitchability, gives him a floor of a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Santana is a middle infielder with excellent speed, range and a strong arm. His speed helps him make plays at short, and he should be capable of playing around the infield. Although he has impressive bat control, he does not hit the ball with much authority. Santana could develop into a glove-first utility man if he cannot add more strength to his 5-foot-11, 155-pound frame.

The Rays lineup has been above average, although that is mostly due to first baseman Jonathan Aranda, third baseman Junior Caminero and designated hitter Yandy Diaz. Adding Hicks gives the Rays another potent bat to lengthen the lineup.