Power-Hitting Catcher Signs with Not the Cubs

No idea why I convinced myself that the Chicago Cubs would eventually make a run at free agent catcher Kyle Higashioka, but I don’t think they were ever actually linked to him since the start of free agency. We know the Cubs have to upgrade at catcher and despite acquiring backup Matt Thaiss in November, they reportedly are still trying to get another backstop for the 2025 season. Well, it won’t be Higashioka, who has agreed to a deal with the Texas Rangers.

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi was the first to report that the two sides were close on Monday night and then Rangers beat reporter Evan Grant broke the news a little later on.

Rangers have agreed to a deal with Kyle Higashioka: https://t.co/Ae6XjKPrNH

— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) December 3, 2024

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, it’s a two-year contract that includes a mutual option for the 2027 season. The salary has not been released yet.

Higashioka hit 17 home runs in 2024 for the San Diego Padres, posting a 105 wRC+ in 263 plate appearances. He has excellent framing skills and double-digit home runs in each of the last four years during his time with the New York Yankees and Padres.

From 2021-24, Higashioka has a combined 5.2 fWAR. During that same time period Carson Kelly, a potential Cubs target at catcher, is at 4.2 fWAR. For reference, Danny Jansen, who could also be on the Cubs’ radar, despite a low 0.5 fWAR in 2024, has a 6.6 fWAR in the past four seasons.

So, another quality free agent catcher off the list for the Cubs. Earlier in the offseason Travis d’Arnaud signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels after the Cubs were reportedly interested in him.

Besides Kelly and Jansen, below are the only other catchers who had a positive WAR in 2024 that remain free agents.

Gary Sánchez
Yasmani Grandal
Elias Díaz 
James McCann

Not exactly the best group there. Maybe the Cubs explore the trade market for catcher help? We’ll see.