Red Sox may have found the perfect catcher upgrade as Marlins make Liam Hicks available

With just over 24 hours until the trade deadline, the Boston Red Sox need to get moving on making some deals to solidify themselves as top contenders come October. 

They’ve been in contact with many teams, one of which being the Miami Marlins, which they have consistently contacted regarding shortstop Otto Lopez, to no avail. However, they may be able to land their catcher upgrade from the Marlins, in Liam Hicks.

Hicks is up for sale

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The Marlins don’t want to sell Lopez due to his team control, or any other long-term piece with any value. However, Hicks is the exception. According to Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, Miami is willing to deal Hicks due to overflow. 

“While Miami is trying to avoid dealing long-term centerpieces, they would consider dealing catcher Liam Hicks, who has posted a .283/.364/.434 line with 14 homers this year. Because the Marlins have rookie Joe Mack as their everyday catcher, Hicks is primarily a DH for Miami, who catches roughly one game per week. He could be more valuable to another team that would give him more frequent work behind the dish,” Speier wrote. 

Hicks would be a major upgrade for Boston

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Right now, neither of Boston’s catcher platoon is better than Hicks offensively. He’s got a powerful swing, and as a lefty with a strong pull tendency, he could abuse Pesky’s Pole for easy home runs.

This season, Hicks is slashing .283/.364/.434/.798 with nine doubles, 14 home runs, and 62 RBI in 100 games played. This is better than Wong’s stats, and much better than Narvaez’s, albeit Narvaez is a better defender behind the plate. 

Hicks could become Boston’s long-term catcher

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Right now, Hicks has a ton of team control. He’s still got a year of pre-arbitration, plus another three of arbitration. This would give the Red Sox a prospective four and a half years of control over Hicks. 

With that in mind, getting him should be a top priority. If they can get him, and another bat of All-Star quality, Boston will walk away from the trade deadline as winners.

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