ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – In a season in which upheaval tended to be the norm rather the expected, decisionmakers of the Tampa Bay Rays made a few significant pushes. These occurred at the trade deadline in which inefficiencies both behind the plate and then on the mound were addressed.
Initially, there was an obvious need to get offensive production from the catching department.
Both Nick Forte (.278 at the trade deadline) and Hunter Feduccia (.234 at the trade deadline) became inefficient and an upgrade was necessitated. That’s when left-handed catcher/first baseman/outfielder Liam Hicks was acquired from Miami and Feduccia dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 3
Despite his versatility in the field, Hicks was told by Rays’ manager Kevin Cash that his permanent position was behind the plate. In Hicks’ first game for Tampa Bay against the Rockies on Aug. 4, the native of Toronto drilled a grand slam in the fourth inning, went 2-for-5 and hit clean-up in Cash’s batting order. Immediately, there was a comfort level and a warm welcome into the Rays’ inclusive clubhouse.
“That quick start speaks volume to the guys in the (clubhouse),” said Hicks. “They made me feel comfortable right away and the staff made me feel comfortable, right away, too. After I got here, it felt like I was on this team for a while. It’s tough going into a new clubhouse and not knowing anyone. But, they made me really feel like I was a part of it from the start.”
At the time of the trade, Hicks was hitting .280 with the Marlins and in 41 games in Tampa Bay, Hicks batted .288 (36-for-145), four homers and drove in 20 runs. In the 2026 post-season, he’s hit. .22 (6-for-27) and four RBIs.
If Hicks was an important offensive acquisition, the deal which brought right-hander Freddie Peralta appears to gain greater value.
Languishing with the New York Mets, after traded from Milwaukee on Jan. 31, 2026, the 30-year-old from Moca, in the DR, deteriorated and became most distant from the All-Star seasons of 2021 and 2025 in with the Brewers. Then with the Mets, he declined further, descended into a 5-9 record, 4.99 ERA for 22 starts and unloaded to the Rays at the early August trade deadline
Peralta packed his bags from Citi Field and immediately thrusted into the Rays rotation.
Then, a profound resurrection.
Lefty Shane McClanahan suffered from back issues and was about to be shut down for the rest of the regular season and post-season. “Bullpen” starts were established for lefty Ian Seymour and righty Griffin Jax and Cash, along with Erik Neander, the club’s president of baseball operation, believed the Rays could have a strong run for post-season placement with addition of a veteran starter.
Enter Peralta.
In 10 starts for the Rays, he compiled a 5-2 record and posted a 3.25 ERA. In the 2026 post-season, he has a 2-0 mark, 0.95 ERA and the addition of the ALCS MVP hardware to his trophy case.
“Everything is working, just amazing,” he said during his pitcher-of-the month run in September. “It’s working the way I way things are supposed to work. Mechanically, the arm extension is there. The confidence that I have now I have back. I think that is the most important thing for a pitcher. That’s when you trust, and the fast ball is my best pitch. I feel like a superhero when that’s working.”
Fast forward to Oct. 19 and his start in game six of the ALCS against Cleveland at Tropicana Field. In the series-clinching game, Peralta went 5.1 innings, allowed five hits, one run and left after 84 pitches. In that span, he was constantly hitting the radar gun in the upper 90s and Cash told reporters after the game that Peralta’s velocity was up a few miles per hour.
“I had no idea how hard I was throwing,” Peralta said after game six. “I was just focused on getting people out. I was competing and trying to give the best of myself and ger quick outs.”
With righty Drew Rasmussen likely to get the ball from Cash to open the 2026 World Series, Peralta is a good bet to go in game two. That could be the same scenario as in the ALCS.
That set up a relief appearance in game three on Oct. 17. Here, Peralta recorded two critical outs on the two batters he faced, threw only nine pitches and prepared for his decisive start in game six against the Guardians.
