Rangers sign beloved former Yankees catcher to surprising multi-year deal

Though the New York Yankees said goodbye to catcher Kyle Higashioka nearly one year ago in the Juan Soto trade, his presence still lingers, and his departure still feels fresh.

Unlike many other recent Yankees departures -- players we've felt jilted by (Frankie Montas) or misled into appraising poorly (Andrew Heaney) -- Higgy was different. We always rooted for him, even as his arbitration price rose and he became somewhat redundant.

As it turned out, the Yankees likely cut bait on the wrong backup in the Soto deal, though it was probably necessary to sell the Padres on Higgy's upside as the trade's final throw-in. While Jose Trevino's ability to zap runners disappeared when he returned in 2024 (wrist surgery fallout, most likely), Higashioka's power went from a nice perk to the tool that fully defined him. After popping 10 homers in each season from 2021-2023 in the Bronx, he upped that total to 17 in 246 plate appearances last year, registering 1.4 bWAR and becoming a San Diego folk hero. Everyone, from screaming fans to Tom DeLonge, chose his laid-back persona to help define the Padres' miraculous run to the forefront of the National League last season.

Sadly, for the people who fell in love with him from La Jolla to the Gaslamp, that increase in production meant an increase in his next contract scope, too. On Monday, he agreed to a contract with the Texas Rangers to back up Jonah Heim (or compete with him for playing time?), per multiple sources.

Texas Rangers sign former Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka

Guess this was always destined, from the moment the Yankees swiped Trevino and cleaned out Texas' backup catcher void. Inevitable! It's a two-year deal with a mutual option for a third season, per Bob Nightengale, and we'll continue to update as further details emerge.

We've already seen what Higashioka can do with an increased opportunity on a contender. Now, we'll get the chance to see if he can elevate the Rangers back to their 2023 pedestal based on his recent experience in victorious clubhouses. It's a great fit, and even we have to admit we didn't see three years coming.