Liam Hicks trade haunting Marlins and fans alike after Kyle Stowers injury

[Sean Millerick]

Suffice it to say, this isn't the way anyone associated with the Miami Marlins drew it up a week ago. 

When the Marlins made the choice to move the seemingly expendable Liam Hicks off the roster at the trade deadline...he really wasn't supposed to be missed. Although in the midst of a strong season overall, he had only homered twice since June 1. Griffin Conine, Heriberto Hernández, and Kyle Stowers had all been more productive hitters lately. Joe Mack had firmly established that the Marlins were looking far backup catchers only.

Miami was covered on lefty bats, covered on catchers, and covered on thump. The move wasn't popular, but of all the rumored moves that smacked of selling, it was seen as the most forgivable amongst the fanbase.

Yet in the blink of an eye—or if you prefer, the spasm of a fast-twitch muscle—Kyle Stowers is back on the IL. That throws the entire Hicks decision tree back under the microscope. 

The first base position was comically overlooked by the Marlins. Perhaps that was more confidence than we realize in the ability of Hicks and Stowers to handle the position, but there is no denying the fact that Miami is now very thin on players with MLB experience at first base. Starting Conine there was the first move on Tuesday following Stowers' IL placement, despite having only ever played six innings there this season. 

Beyond Conine, light-hitting Leo Jiménez and Graham Pauley are in Miami's plans there for the moment, according to manager Clayton McCullough. Both of those "solutions" are sporting a negative WAR on the year. The club is essentially right back to where they were at the beginning of the year, with far more questions than answers at first base. Only now, there is a lot less calendar left to figure those answers out. 

Revisiting the Hicks decision has more to do with the structure of the trade than the fact he was traded to begin with. If Miami had moved Hicks in a deal that brought back either a starting pitcher or a right-handed bat to help this year's MLB roster make a run at the playoffs? Just the cost of doing business to maximize the roster in the here and now? Fan angst would be limited to handwringing over the Marlins being cursed and little more. 

However, when you sell off a very popular player for yet another prospect package...that's going to leave any organization open to criticism. 

By the way, Hicks owns a .238/.407/.476 slash line through seven games with Tampa Bay. His club is a perfect 7-0 in those contests.

View full article

[1993 fan from start]

Not just that  you could also throw in conner Norby trade also.   Remember he was a 1b / 3b with the team.  To bring up Agustin made it worse . Instead of giving someone a chance from the minor league. That deserves it.  Why I would of trade for Mayo of O's. .  if you wanted good 1b replacement.

[Robert Hanson]

The same thing can be said, trading starting pitching the last 2 offseasons.

     In the 2024-2025 offseason the Marlins trade Jesus Luzardo, then sign Cal Quantrill. This had a serious negative effect on the Marlins playoff chances. The Marlins finished 79-83, missing out on the final playoff spot by 4 games. Luzardo in place of Quantrill yields the Marlins additional wins. 
 

    In the 2025-2026 offseason, the Marlins traded Edward Cabrera & Ryan Weathers, then sign Chris Paddack. The Cabrera trade got the Marlins an MLB ready player in Owen Caissie & Cabrera is on the I.L. yet again, so that trade hasn’t had a negative effect on the Marlins playoff chances this year. The Weathers trade has had a negative effect on the Marlins playoff chances this year, though Weathers is certainly no Luzardo, due to no MLB ready players coming back to the Marlins. Weathers in place of Paddack yields the Marlins additional wins. 
 

    Whether the Marlins plan on trading additional starting pitching (Sandy) this  coming offseason is unclear.

[Shawn]

I had no issue trading hicks, but of all the teams in need of a catcher should have at least gotten 1 top 100 prospect. At least a prospect that would rank in our old top 10. Instead quantity or quality. 

[One Regend]

I'm just shocked. We had Kemp Alderman literally start games at 1B at AAA. We had an easy move to put Kemp on the 40-man roster: Just transfer William Kempner to the 60-day IL. Kempner's not returning this season. Hell, Alderman doesn't even need to always be at 1B. He could switch places with Conine here and there.

But bringing Pauley up, despite there being several better upgrades, reinforces the one thing I was deathly afraid of: This organization is content with mediocrity.