The Texas Rangers are signing veteran catcher Kyle Higashioka

The Texas Rangers signed veteran catcher Kyle Higashioka to a two-year contract with a mutual option through 2027 on Monday.

Higashioka, 34, played for the San Diego Padres last season after being part of the Juan Soto trade with the New York Yankees last offseason.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound catcher found his power stroke as the Padres raced toward the postseason. He finished his career with 17 home runs, 45 RBIs and 29 runs batted in. He played in 84 games for San Diego and made 263 plate appearances.

As a Padre, the right-handed hitting catcher earned $2.18 million in his final year as an umpire and was in line for a raise before spring training.

A standout defensive player behind the plate, Higashioka was largely a backup player during his time with the Yankees, often catching New York star Gerrit Cole. In San Diego, another team full of stars, he fit in perfectly.

“He was fantastic,” San Diego manager Mike Shildt said during the Padres’ postseason run. “He’s done a great job and is an extension of myself. A catcher-manager relationship is important.”

“(But) the most important thing is his relationship with the pitchers. That’s the most important relationship, making sure he’s in sync with them.”

The Rangers, who won the 2023 World Series, finished last season 78-84 in the American League West and in third place.