The Padres will have a new starting catcher in 2025.
Kyle Higashioka has agreed to a two-year contract with the Texas Rangers, according to multiple reports, in hopes of reuniting with the career backup who rose to the top of the Padres’ depth as the team moved into the National League. It is said that it has come to an end.
Considering the Padres’ new financial situation (the Padres haven’t outlined their payroll for 2025, but several players are scheduled for raises following last year’s budget cuts), a reunion with Higashioka seems unlikely. The probability was
The deal will pay Higashioka $5.75 million next year, $6.76 million in 2026 and includes a $7 million mutual option in 2027, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Higashioka earned $2.18 million in his final year of arbitration and hit a career-high 17 home runs, with three more in the postseason. He started the 2024 season as a backup to Luis Campusano. The 34-year-old Southern California native, who played throw-ins as part of the Juan Soto deal, finished the season as the Padres’ No. 1 catcher.
Without a key addition at the position, Higashioka’s departure leaves the Padres pondering once again whether Campusano can hold the fort until top prospect Ethan Salas, 18, arrives.
Campusano, 26, played in 91 games and hit .227/.281/.361 with eight home runs. He started the season as the No. 1 catcher, but was sidelined for about three weeks with a thumb injury and eventually lost his spot on the power chart as Higashioka hit a string of home runs in June.
Campusano also struggled defensively and was eventually replaced by Elias Díaz. Campusano finished the season at Triple-A El Paso.
Before Salas, Campusano was the Padres’ catcher of the future. He was drafted as a backstop by every team in the 2017 draft (second round) and was named co-MVP in the California League, a single-A lower league, in 2019.
The pandemic wiped out next year’s minor league season, forcing the Padres to evaluate Campusano’s progress while playing simulated games at alternate venues. He made his big league debut that summer without playing above A-ball, never playing an inning in Double-A, and despite appearing in the big leagues both seasons, he will be back in the big leagues in 2022. and played most of 2023 at Triple-A El Paso.
After a successful 2023 season in the majors (.875 OPS, 6 HR in 42 games), the Padres gave Campusano his first big league starting job on opening day.
The Padres enter next week’s winter meetings with Camp Suano and Brett Sullivan as the only catchers on the 40-man roster.
Campusano is currently playing for Richy in the Dominican Republic, preparing for a new starting role. He is batting .233/.244/.372 with one home run and two RBIs in 10 games.
First Published: December 2, 2024 5:48 PM PST
