Texas Rangers & Detroit Tigers Complete Trade

The Texas Rangers have bolstered their catching corps by acquiring Carson Kelly from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for catcher Liam Hicks and right-handed pitcher Tyler Owens. 

Kelly, who turned 30 on July 14, is having a bounce-back season with a solid .240/.325/.391 slash line, seven home runs, and 29 RBIs in 60 games. 

Known for his defensive prowess, Kelly has thrown out 18 would-be base stealers and earned one catcher framing run. 

Scott Harris did a nice job with Carson Kelly.

Signed him off the scrap heap 4 days after the D-Backs released him last year and now he trades him to the Rangers and gets something.

His OPS went from .580 last year w/ Arizona to .720 this year.

Well done

Now bring on Dingler!

— Jeff Riger (@riger1984) July 28, 2024

As he approaches free agency, Kelly brings much-needed stability and experience to the Rangers' lineup, addressing a significant need as they aim to improve their playoff prospects.

Kelly's acquisition is timely for the Rangers, whose catchers have struggled offensively this season. Jonah Heim, after an All-Star performance in 2023, has seen a decline, hitting just .234/.281/.346, while backup Andrew Knizner has been even less effective with a .167/.183/.211 line. 

Kelly's experience and improved performance behind the plate should provide stability and depth, potentially allowing Heim to regain his form with a lighter workload. 

The Rangers, currently trailing in both the AL West and the wild-card race, hope Kelly's veteran presence will enhance their postseason push as they look to defend their 2023 World Series title.

Welcome to Texas, Carson Kelly! 🤠 pic.twitter.com/XfFS4cj9HT

— Rangers Nation ⚾️ (@rangers__nation) July 28, 2024

For the Tigers, trading Kelly opens the door for their top catching prospect, Dillon Dingler, to step up to the majors. 

Dingler has been impressive at Triple-A Toledo, boasting a .938 OPS with 17 home runs and a strong July performance. 

The Tigers signed Kelly last August to help him rework his game, which paid off as he became a valuable middle-of-the-order run producer and a reliable catcher. 

The addition of promising prospects Hicks and Owens, both performing well at Double-A Frisco, aligns with the Tigers' future plans, providing depth to their farm system while clearing the path for Dingler's major league debut.

Photo Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK