Cubs Acquire Old Friend PJ Higgins from D-Backs for Cash
Catcher P.J. Higgins spent eight years in the Cubs organization after being drafted in the 12th round back in 2015, but was outrighted back in January and elected free agency. He then signed a minors deal with the Diamondbacks and has spent the season with their Triple-A affiliate in Reno, batting .317 with six homers and an .880 OPS. He’ll now see if that performance carries over to Des Moines because the Cubs have re-acquired him in exchange for cash considerations.
The Cubs have re-acquired catcher P.J. Higgins from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for a cash consideration.
— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) July 16, 2023
The initial reaction might be to look at this as a precursor to a move at the big-league level, but it’s probably more about creating depth at Triple-A after Dom Nuñez went to the IL with something that must be significant. Nuñez had played the most games behind the plate at 45 and Bryce Windham is next at 28, though the latter probably isn’t ready to fill in at the highest level just yet. Higgins fills out the roster at Iowa and provides an experienced emergency option should something happen to one of the three catchers in Chicago.
In 254 plate appearances across parts of two MLB seasons, Higgins has a .210 average with a .639 OPS and has produced -0.1 fWAR. He doesn’t have much power, but he typically works a strong plate appearance and he’s obviously familiar with the system.