The Rangers introduced the signing of catcher Kyle Higashioka to a two-year contract with a mutual choice for 2027. Higashioka, a Beverly Hills Sports activities Council shopper, is reportedly assured $13.5MM. He’ll make successive salaries of $5.75MM and $6.75MM over the following two seasons. He’s additionally assured a $1MM buyout on the ’27 choice, which is valued at $7MM. The Rangers now have 39 gamers on their 40-man roster.
Higashioka was one of many high catchers in a weak free agent class. He’d been a first-time free agent despite the fact that he’ll flip 35 in April. Drafted out of highschool by the Yankees in 2008, Higashioka spent 9 seasons within the minors earlier than he bought his first massive league name. He bounced on and off the MLB roster for an additional three years. It wasn’t till he’d exhausted his minor league choices that he bought a everlasting massive league job in 2020.
New York by no means gave Higashioka a glance as a legit beginning catcher. He spent four-plus seasons in a backup position whereas working as Gerrit Cole’s private catcher. The Yankees packaged him to the Padres in final winter’s Juan Soto blockbuster. Whereas San Diego was on the lookout for a veteran backup who may work behind Luis Campusano, Higashioka was usually considered as the ultimate piece of their five-player Soto return.
The Huntington Seashore native ended up as a surprisingly key contributor to San Diego’s 93-win crew. Campusano struggled on either side of the ball and ultimately performed his approach off the large league roster. Higashioka, alternatively, had one of the best season of his profession. He hit a personal-high 17 dwelling runs over 84 video games. The longball made him a good offensive participant regardless of horrible on-base marks. Higashioka ran a weird .220/.263/.476 batting line over 267 journeys to the plate.
Solely 21 hitters (minimal 200 plate appearances) had a decrease on-base proportion. Nonetheless, Higashioka is the one participant who ranked amongst MLB’s backside 30 in OBP who however graded as an above-average total hitter by measure of wRC+ — a testomony to his energy manufacturing. By 12 months’s finish, Higashioka had overtaken Campusano as Mike Shildt’s beginning catcher. He drilled three extra homers in seven postseason video games.
Higashioka has earned a stable defensive popularity. Statcast has regarded favorably on his pitch framing abilities, whereas he’s usually well-regarded for his means to work with a pitching employees. Higashioka has struggled as a blocker in consecutive seasons, although. He was charged with 9 handed balls throughout 665 2/3 innings this 12 months. Solely Francisco Alvarez (11) was charged with extra. Korey Lee and Patrick Bailey tied Higashioka with 9 handed balls, however they every caught 150+ extra innings than he did. Statcast positioned him within the backside third of certified catchers in common pop time, although his 20% caught stealing charge was in keeping with the MLB common.
The on-base deficiencies and maybe some concern about his arm power have saved Higashioka from getting a full-time beginning job. He has by no means tallied 300 plate appearances in an MLB season. Groups have considered him extra as a high-quality backup than a real #1 catcher.
Texas has 2023 All-Star Jonah Heim as their main choice behind the plate. Heim had a disappointing ’24 marketing campaign, slumping to a .220/.267/.336 line over 491 plate appearances. Heim has topped 125 video games in three straight seasons. Between the common season and playoffs, he appeared in 148 contests in 2023. Higashioka isn’t more likely to supplant him because the beginning catcher, however the veteran’s presence may permit supervisor Bruce Bochy to cut back Heim’s workload by 15-20 video games.
Texas bought nearly nothing out of backup catcher Andrew Knizner for the primary few months of the season. The Rangers acquired Carson Kelly on the deadline, however he stumbled to a .235/.291/.343 exhibiting in 31 video games. With Kelly hitting free company, GM Chris Younger and his employees focused Higashioka to hopefully solidify the catching corps.
RosterResource now calculates the Rangers’ payroll round $185MM, whereas they’ve about $195MM in luxurious tax obligations. Texas reportedly intends to remain beneath the tax threshold in 2025. They’ve bought round $46MM in respiratory room earlier than they hit that mark, although it’s unclear exactly the place possession will draw the road because the Rangers attempt to organize a brand new setup for his or her in-market native broadcasting.
Higashioka’s deal meets expectations. MLBTR predicted he’d obtain a two-year, $15MM pact that’s marginally greater than what he truly landed. 4 free agent catchers have come off the board throughout the first few weeks of the offseason. Higashioka joins Travis d’Arnaud as recipients of multi-year offers, whereas Jacob Stallings and Austin Hedges every signed for one assured season. Alongside Kelly, Danny Jansen stands as the highest free agent for groups on the lookout for assist behind the dish.
The Padres are a type of golf equipment. Higashioka’s departure leaves the Padres with an apparent want behind the plate. Campusano and Brett Sullivan are the one catchers on their 40-man roster. Neither seems to be like a viable starter for a crew with postseason aspirations. High prospect Ethan Salas is hopefully the long-term answer, however the teenager is unlikely to make an MLB impression by subsequent season.
Jon Morosi of the MLB Network first reported the Rangers and Higashioka have been making progress on an settlement. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News confirmed the deal was in place. Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports reported the wage breakdown. Picture courtesy of USA Right now Sports activities.
