Rays land Hicks in three-player swap to bolster catching behind the plate

The Miami Marlins traded catcher/first baseman Liam Hicks to the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-player package that also sends Brayden Taylor to Miami, with Adrian Santana and Jacob Kisting rounding out the return. Hicks, 27, has posted a .282/.363/.432 line with 14 homers in 409 plate appearances and is viewed as a potential long-term catching solution for Tampa Bay, a team that has shuffled at the position. The Rays’ catching duties have been filled by Nick Fortes and Hunter Feduccia, with Fortes producing solid numbers and Feduccia offering less offense. The move gives Tampa a potential offensive upgrade behind the plate while Miami retools its depth.