Rangers add Higashioka on 2-year, $13.5M deal

The Texas Rangers and catcher Kyle Higashioka agreed to a two-year contract, the club announced Monday.

Higashioka will earn $5.75 million in 2025 and $6.75 million in 2026. The deal includes a $7-million mutual option in 2027 with a $1-million buyout.

The 34-year-old is coming off the best offensive season of his eight-year career, recording 17 homers with 45 RBIs and a .739 OPS over 84 games for the San Diego Padres.

Higashioka finished in the 65th percentile for framing in 2024, according to Baseball Savant.

He'll form a catching tandem with 2023 All-Star Jonah Heim and the pair will split playing time evenly, general manager Ross Fenstermaker told Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports.