The Detroit Tigers have traded catcher Carson Kelly to the Texas Rangers, marking the first move on their trade deadline list. This development isn’t surprising, as Jake Rogers recently caught two consecutive games, and top catching prospect Dillon Dingler took a rare day off with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.
Kelly, who joined the Tigers after being designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks in mid-August 2023, was signed by Detroit on a contract with a $3.5M club option for 2024, which they exercised in the offseason. Despite previous struggles and injuries, Kelly has bounced back this season, hitting .242 with a .327 OBP and seven home runs, and posting a 107 wRC+. His performance behind the plate has also been strong, with positive marks in pop time, throwing, framing, and blocking. As a pending free agent and with Dingler performing well in Toledo, Kelly’s departure seemed inevitable. The Rangers, aiming for a playoff return after a tough season from primary catcher Jonah Heim, were a fitting destination.
In return, the Tigers received relief prospect Tyler Owens and catcher Liam Hicks. Owens, 23, is a 5’10” right-hander who can touch 99 mph with his fastball and has a solid relief profile, although his secondary pitches and command need improvement. He holds a 2.80 ERA in 26 Double-A appearances this season but isn’t ranked in top farm system lists. Hicks, 25, is a left-handed hitting catcher with good bat-to-ball skills but minimal power and ongoing defensive development issues. Despite being at Double-A for the second year, Hicks is seen as organizational depth with potential for occasional MLB appearances.
Overall, the trade is viewed as uninspiring for the Tigers, yielding a potential future reliever and a depth catcher to make room for Dillon Dingler. This move is less impressive compared to other recent trades, but it suggests the Tigers have plans for Owens and acknowledges the Rangers’ struggles in developing pitchers.
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