MLB News: August 2nd

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Rangers Acquire Catcher Carson Kelly from Tigers: Key Trade Details and Implications

The Texas Rangers have acquired catcher Carson Kelly from the Detroit Tigers in a trade involving two minor league prospects. The Rangers sent catching prospect Liam Hicks and right-handed pitching prospect Tyler Owens to the Tigers. This move aims to bolster the Rangers’ catching position, which has been underwhelming this season.

Who is Carson Kelly? 

Carson Kelly, 30, initially joined the Tigers last August after being designated for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kelly, a former second-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2012, was highly regarded as a top-50 prospect. 

He moved to Arizona in the trade that sent Paul Goldschmidt to the Cardinals before the 2019 season. Kelly performed well in his first three seasons with the Diamondbacks, achieving a .239/.333/.435 slash line and a league-average wRC+ of 100. 

However, his performance dipped in 2022, and he struggled significantly in 2023, hitting just .226/.283/.298 in 32 games before being designated for assignment.

Despite his initial struggles with the Tigers, hitting only .173/.271/.269 in 18 games, Detroit picked up his $3.5 million club option for the 2024 season. This decision has paid off, as Kelly has emerged as the primary catcher for the Tigers this year. 

He has improved offensively with a .242/.327/.393 slash line and a 19.3% strikeout rate, his best in a full season. Kelly’s defensive metrics have also been impressive, with Statcast giving him top marks for blocking, controlling the running game, and framing. These factors made Kelly an attractive trade target this summer.

How Will Kelly Help the Champions? 

The Rangers’ catching situation has been disappointing, with Jonah Heim regressing offensively after an All-Star campaign in 2023. Heim is hitting just .234/.281/.346 in 90 games, while backup Andrew Knizner has struggled mightily, posting a .167/.183/.211 slash line in 37 games. 

The acquisition of Kelly is expected to provide a significant upgrade over Knizner and allow Heim to focus on regaining his form from last season.

Two Prospects going to Detroit

In exchange for Kelly, the Tigers receive Tyler Owens and Liam Hicks, both playing at the Double-A level. Owens, a right-handed pitcher, was previously traded to the Rangers in January as part of the deal that sent outfielder J.P. Martinez to Atlanta.

Known for his upper-90s fastball, slider, and cutter, Owens has struggled with command but has shown improvement this season with a 2.80 ERA in 35 1/3 innings, striking out 24.5% of batters while walking just 6.5%. He could potentially reach Triple-A before the end of the season.

Liam Hicks, a Double-A catcher, has demonstrated strong on-base skills throughout his career. Despite lacking power and receiving mixed reviews for his defense, Hicks has posted a .364 on-base percentage in 80 games this season. His career slash line in Double-A is .264/.380/.360, and he could provide valuable catching depth for the Tigers in the future.

With Kelly’s departure, the Tigers may look to Dillon Dingler, their #10 prospect according to Baseball America, to step up as a big-league catcher. 

Dingler has shown promising power in the minors but has struggled with strikeouts. However, he has improved his offensive performance in Triple-A this season, hitting .308/.379/.559 with a 137 wRC+. Dingler is expected to share catching duties with Jake Rogers, who has a 68 wRC+ in 64 games this year but excels defensively.

The addition of Kelly should enhance the Rangers’ chances as they continue their pursuit of a postseason berth. For those following MLB lines, the impact of this trade could be significant as Kelly brings stability and experience to the Rangers’ lineup.