Marlins Make Many Moves for Future, Few for Present at Trade Deadline

MIAMI — Despite being in a position to be buyers at the MLB Trade Deadline, the Miami Marlins (58-55) chose to continue building for the future, even at the expense of the present.

The Marlins first traded RBI leader Liam Hicks to the Tampa Bay Rays for a trio of prospects, Jacob Kisting, shortstop Adrian Santana, and infielder Brayden Taylor. Despite leading the Marlins with 62 RBIs, Hicks was primarily the designated hitter while providing depth at catcher and first base. At Tampa Bay, he will most likely be the starting catcher for a division leader.

Taylor is the highlight of the package, as he slots in as the Marlins’ new No. 10-ranked prospect. The 24-year-old infielder made his pilgrimage to the Arizona Fall League last year and is slashing .284/.384/.513 with 17 home runs, and 56 RBI in 88 games with Double-A Montgomery this season. Taylor was selected 19th overall by the Rays in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Texas Christian University.

Kisting was ranked as the Rays’ No. 26 prospect at the time of the trade. The 23-year-old leads Rays minor leaguers with a 1.67 ERA, .180 opponents’ batting average, and 0.87 WHIP in 18 games (16 starts) with High-A Bowling Green. Kisting was originally selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 14th round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of Bradley University but was traded to Tampa Bay last year.

 Much like Jacob Lombard this year, Santana was taken by the Rays with the 31st pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of high school in Doral. The 21-year-old rose the ranks as the Rays’ No. 27 prospect with a .316/.381/.400 slash line and 23 stolen bases in 51 games with High-A Bowling Green this season.

The Marlins then traded Braxton Garrett to the Chicago Cubs for a pair of prospects, two of which may make their way to Miami in the near future.

Garrett was one of the best pitchers in Triple-A, with a 2.90 ERA in 15 starts with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. He struggled in his only two starts with the Marlins and was clearly expendable.

In return, the Marlins get what may be their first baseman of the future in Jonathon Long. The 24-year-old was the Cubs’ No. 10 prospect at the time of the trade after slashing .283/.364/.455 in 99 games with Triple-A Iowa this season. He also hit 12 home runs and drove in 62 runs for the Iowa Cubs, making him a likely replacement for Hicks, should he get called up soon.

Beck rose to the No. 28 spot in the Cubs’ farm system during his first year with the organization. He struck out 116 batters in 25 appearances between Double-A and Triple-A.

The Marlins also sent Connor Norby and pitching prospect Aiden May to the Colorado Rockies for relief pitcher Victor Vodnik. This was a trade among sellers.

In Vodnik, the Marlins addressed a key need in their bullpen. Despite pitching in the toughest environment in MLB, Vodnik has a 2.50 ERA over his last 15 appearances and ranks in the 96th percentile in average fastball velocity (98.6 mph), according to Baseball Savant.

The Marlins gave up on Norby after the 26-year-old slashed .205/.313/.325 with 12 doubles, four home runs and 16 RBI in 65 games with Miami this season. He has since put up an .847 OPS in 23 games with Triple-A Jacksonville after being optioned on June 25. Norby was a part of the trade with the Baltimore Orioles that also netted Kyle Stowers in exchange for Trevor Rogers in 2024.

Miami also shipped May, 23, who appeared in the Arizona Fall League and is ranked No. 27 in the Marlins’ farm system before the trade. He has posted a 3.80 ERA in 14 starts with High-A Beloit this season.

Finally, the Marlins sent Lake Bachar to the Pittsburgh Pirates for three minor leaguers, one of whom has a cup of coffee in the big leagues. Bachar posted a 3.84 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 38 appearances with the Marlins this season.

Brandon Bidois made his MLB debut with the Pirates on May 13 and has since struck out 20 batters in 15.2 innings over 15 appearances before going back to Triple-A. The 25-year-old native of Brisbane, Australia, Bidois has a career 2.89 ERA with 80 walks, and 187 strikeouts through 111 minor league appearances.

18-year-old infielder Hyun Seung Lee slashed .264/.363/.471 in 50 minor league games between the Florida Complex League and Single-A Bradenton. He signed with the Pirates as an international free agent out of South Korea.

22-year-old outfielder Brian Sánchez is slashing .254/.340/.431 with nine home runs, and 40 RBI in 93 games with High-A Greensboro before the trade.

Whether these trades make the Marlins better in the long run remains to be seen. They go to Atlanta for a key three-game series on Tuesday with the hopes that Agustin Ramirez can negate the sting of trading away Hicks.