Tigers trade resurgent catcher to Rangers to capitalize on 2024 value

Update: The Tigers traded C Carson Kelly to the Rangers for two unranked prospects — C Liam Hicks and RHP Tyler Owens.

Things have been suspiciously quiet on the Tigers' trade front, despite some signs from Jack Flaherty during Saturday's game that hinted a deal might be coming down soon. We were on Hug Watch for Flaherty, but less so for Carson Kelly, the Tigers' veteran co-catcher who's been having a better offensive season than anyone could've hoped in his walk year.

Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Tigers have traded Kelly to the Rangers, who have been working with a struggling Andrew Knizner as their backup catcher behind Jonah Heim.

The Tigers exercised their club option, worth $3.5 million, on Kelly at the beginning of this season, and he's been more than serviceable as a battery mate to Jake Rogers. Kelly is an elite defensive catcher in multiple categories and has been hitting .277 with a .826 OPS since May 13.

The defending world champs are in need of a lot at the moment, and it appears the Tigers were able to help them out at backstop.

Tigers trade surging catcher Carson Kelly to Rangers

The Tigers have a clear internal replacement for Kelly. No. 11 prospect Dillon Dingler is in the midst of his first full year in Triple-A and is hitting .308 with a .938 OPS, 17 home runs, and 52 RBI over 71 games.

The return for Kelly has yet to be confirmed, but the Tigers are hardly in the hunt for players that will make them competitive through the rest of the season. The Rangers seem likely to send one or two prospects who will help a Detroit team that has a lot of promise be truly competitive next season. Nonetheless, the Tigers did great here to capitalize on Kelly's value, which has surged in 2024 as he finally found his form.

Kelly is a credit unto himself and the Tigers' staff. He was DFA'ed and released last season by the Diamondbacks and scooped up by the Tigers, who were confident that they could revitalize his career in Detroit. He didn't disappoint, and now the Tigers are reaping the benefits of their efforts.