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Not a surprise-Texas Rangers Fill Top Non-Pitching Need, Sign Veteran Catcher In Case Jonah Heim Struggles Again

Excoba Bayano
December 3, 2024
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Texas Rangers Address Key Non-Pitching Need by Signing Veteran Catcher as Insurance for Jonah Heim

The Texas Rangers have filled their most pressing non-pitching need this offseason by signing veteran catcher Kyle Higashioka to a two-year, $13.5 million deal. The contract runs through 2026, with a mutual option for 2027.

Higashioka will earn $5.75 million in 2025 and $6.75 million in 2026, with a $7 million option for 2027 and a $1 million buyout. The 35-year-old, who is set to turn 35 in April, had a career year in 2024, hitting .220/.263/.476/.739 with 17 home runs, 45 RBIs, and 29 runs over 84 games with the San Diego Padres.

The Rangers are hoping Higashioka will serve as a backup to Jonah Heim, an All-Star in 2023, but whose performance dipped in 2024, as he hit just .220 with 13 home runs, 12 doubles, and 59 RBIs—down from the previous season. While Heim is expected to remain the starting catcher, Higashioka provides experienced depth in case Heim struggles in 2025. The Rangers’ previous backup, Andrew Knizner, was designated for assignment after a disappointing season.

Higashioka has been known for his defensive abilities, throwing out 13 of 65 attempted base stealers in 2024, which ranked 4th-best among National League catchers with at least 75 starts. Prior to his year with San Diego, he spent 16 seasons in the New York Yankees organization, debuting in 2017 after 10 years in the minors—the longest path to the big leagues for any Yankees player at the time. He was traded to the Padres in December 2023 as part of the deal that brought Juan Soto to New York.

A right-handed batter from Huntington Beach, California, Higashioka was drafted in the seventh round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Over his career, he has hit at least 10 home runs and driven in 29 RBIs in each of the last four seasons. He also caught two notable no-hitters: Domingo Germán’s perfect game in 2023 and Corey Kluber’s no-hitter in 2021. Higashioka is just the 13th catcher in MLB history to catch both a perfect game and a no-hitter.

Higashioka has a career slash line of .212/.255/.412/.668, with 57 home runs in 398 MLB games across eight seasons. His 28.4 catcher framing runs since 2019 rank seventh in MLB, according to Fangraphs.

With this signing, the Rangers now have 39 players on their 40-man roster.

Last Update: December 3, 2024

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