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.