Miami Marlins acquire catcher Jacob Stallings from Pirates

The Miami Marlins have made a trade on Monday afternoon to address the catching position in what is the second significant move of the offseason so far.

Miami Marlins acquire catcher Jacob Stallings

According to a report from MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal, the Marlins are acquiring catcher Jacob Stallings in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A six-year MLB veteran, Stallings is coming off a career-year in 2021 with the Pirates in which the 31-year-old slashed a combined .246/.335/.369 across 112 games. Stallings also hit eight home runs with 53 RBI’s during the 2021 season with 49 walks to 85 strikeouts, as well as a 3.0 WAR.

Stallings has spend every year of his career with Pittsburgh where he is a career .254/.331/.370 hitter. A gold glove defender behind the plate in 2021, Stallings holds a 25% caught stealing percentage, as well as a .993 fielding percentage.

In return, the Marlins sent three players to the Pirates in right-hander Zach Thompson, as well as two Top 30 ranked prospects in right-hander Kyle Nicolas (No. 16) and outfielder Connor Scott (No. 23).

Thompson, a 28-year-old, made his major league debut with the Marlins in 2021 posting a 3-7 record with a 3.24 ERA splitting time between the starting rotation and bullpen.

Nicolas, a second round pick by the Marlins in 2020, posted a combined 4.18 ERA across 21 appearances between High-A Beloit and Double-A Pensacola during the 2021 season. Scott, a former first round pick by Miami in 2018, appeared in 96 games with High-A Beloit this past season slashing .276/.333/.446 with 10 home runs, 46 RBI’s, and 16 stolen bases.

The acquisition of Stallings gives the Miami Marlins their likely starting catcher entering the 2022 season, and a player who is still under team control through the 2025 season.

Looking ahead as well, the Marlins are expected to be active through both trades and free agency, some of which will be significant moves such as this.