Kyle Higashioka signs 2-year, $13.5M contract with Rangers
The Texas Rangers on Monday signed veteran catcher Kyle Higashioka to a two-year contract with a mutual option for 2027.
The deal is worth $13.5 million, according to The Dallas Morning News. Higashioka will earn $5.75 million in 2025 and $6.75 million in 2026, with the 2027 option valued at $7 million, including a $1 million buyout.
Higashioka, 34, played for the San Diego Padres last season after being traded from the New York Yankees as part of the blockbuster Juan Soto deal. In his final year of arbitration eligibility, the right-handed catcher earned $2.18 million and was poised for a salary increase heading into spring training.
Higashioka, 34, is coming off a career-best season with the San Diego Padres, where he recorded 17 home runs and 45 RBIs in 84 games. Despite a modest .220 batting average, his power numbers—bolstered by a .476 slugging percentage—made him a key contributor, especially during the Padres’ postseason run.
He homered in both Wild Card games against the Braves and added another in the NLDS against the Dodgers.
Prior to his stint in San Diego, Higashioka spent seven seasons with the New York Yankees, where he hit .210 with 40 home runs and 121 RBIs across 314 games. Known for his defensive skills, particularly his ability to frame pitches effectively, Higashioka has consistently ranked among the best in the league in this area.
However, his blocking and throwing metrics have been less reliable, with -20 Blocks Above Average since 2023 and a pop time in the 10th percentile among catchers in 2024.
Rangers catchers coach Bobby Wilson, who has a track record of developing strong defensive players like Jonah Heim and Jose Trevino, will likely work to refine Higashioka’s defensive shortcomings. This could maximize his contributions alongside Heim, who has been the Rangers’ primary catcher and a defensive anchor.
Higashioka joins a Rangers team that already features Jonah Heim, an All-Star and Gold Glove-winning catcher from their 2023 World Series season. Heim played 131 games in each of the past two years but experienced a dip in production, hitting .220 with 13 homers and 59 RBIs last season, compared to .258 with 18 homers and 95 RBIs in 2023.
With Carson Kelly now a free agent, Higashioka fills an immediate need for Texas, giving them a reliable secondary option behind the plate. While Heim will likely remain the starter, Higashioka’s power and defensive expertise make him an asset in a shared role, particularly in managing the Rangers’ pitching staff.
San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt praised Higashioka’s ability to connect with pitchers during their postseason run, saying:
“He’s done a great job of being an extension of myself. A catcher-manager relationship is important. [But] the most important thing is his relationship with the pitchers. That’s the most important relationship, is making sure he’s synced up with them.”
The Rangers, coming off a disappointing 78-84 season in 2024 after their World Series triumph in 2023, are looking to rebound. Adding Kyle Higashioka strengthens their catching depth and gives them a veteran presence with postseason experience, a crucial component as they aim to return to contention.
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