Kyle Higashioka could give the Giants a practical answer behind the plate without forcing them to spend heavily. If the medical review checks out, San Francisco should at least look into a short deal for the veteran catcher as a backup to Daniel Susac.
That kind of move would fit the Giants’ current setup. They have younger catchers to sort through, but an experienced hand could help lighten Susac’s load as he works back from a knee injury. Higashioka would need to prove he can still handle the job defensively, but the role is there if he can.
San Francisco’s catching picture got clearer after the club outrighted Andrew Knizner to Triple-A Sacramento. That leaves Susac, Drew Cavanaugh and Jesus Rodriguez on the 40-man roster.
Susac’s 2026 season ended in August when he suffered a left patellar fracture. If he’s healthy, he should get a chance to establish himself as the primary catcher. Even so, the Giants would be better off with another option when he needs a breather or if the team decides his workload should stay on the cautious side.
That’s where Higashioka comes in. He could serve as the veteran support piece while Cavanaugh and Rodriguez keep pushing for their own chances. A proven backup would also give San Francisco more room to place its young catchers where they need to be for development.
Of course, there’s more to this than just handing out a contract. The Giants would need to clear a 40-man spot for any Major League signing, and every start Higashioka gets would come at the expense of someone else’s playing time. He’d have to justify that investment on the field.
The money matters, too. With the Giants already carrying payroll commitments, president of baseball operations Buster Posey should keep some flexibility open for pitching while searching for smaller additions that can make the roster sturdier elsewhere.
Higashioka’s bat still offers something. In 2026, he hit .218/.306/.370 with seven home runs in 186 plate appearances. He also showed pop in earlier stops, hitting 17 homers for the San Diego Padres in 2024 and 11 for Texas in 2025.
But the glove deserves a close look. Statcast gave him a minus-4 fielding run value in 2026, which means the Giants would need to study both his receiving and throwing before making any commitment.
Health is part of the equation as well. A right flexor strain disrupted his most recent season, so any pursuit would have to be backed by a medical evaluation that says he can catch regularly in a secondary role.
A one-year deal in the $2 million to $3 million range would be a sensible ceiling for San Francisco. That’s the kind of price point that would let the Giants add experience and a little power without locking themselves into a long-term commitment. If Higashioka wants more money, more playing time, or if the medicals don’t look right, the Giants should keep moving.
Used in the right role, he could complement Susac while leaving the younger catcher the chance to lead the position. For a team trying to keep its catching depth steady without draining resources that could go toward pitching, that’s a fit worth considering.
In Other News...
Giants Free Agency Could Frustrate Fans Hoping For A Bigger Splash
The Giants offseason may end up looking a lot more practical than flashy. Rather than chasing the top of the free-agent market, San Francisco is expected to lean toward mid-tier additions and internal options, a path that fits the clubs need to manage resources carefully while still trying to improve the roster.
A big reason is the cost attached to players who received qualifying offers. Names such as David Bednar, Brandon Lowe, Adrian Morejon, Randy Arozarena, Trevor Rogers and Seiya Suzuki are all in that category, and signing one would mean giving up draft compensation along with international bonus pool money. For a Giants team that appears intent on staying selective, those extra costs could be enough to steer the front office toward cheaper alternatives instead. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Exposed A Bullpen Weakness They Still Havent Solved
The Giants spent part of their roster cleanup trimming three left-handed arms from the 40-man mix, with Matt Gage and Seth Lonsway outrighted to Sacramento and Reiver Sanmartn designated for assignment. On paper, it was a routine set of moves. In practice, it underscored how thin the clubs supply of left-handed relief help has become as it looks ahead to next season.
Sam Hentges remains the most obvious answer in that lane, but the Giants are still carrying concerns about recent performance, and the rest of the left-handed depth chart is hardly reassuring. Some of the other options are young, while others are working back from surgery, which leaves the bullpen with a familiar problem: not enough dependable left-handed innings and no clear sign yet that the issue has been solved. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Pitching Woes Could Force Them Into A Market Fans Never Expected
The Giants spent the 2026 season searching for stability on the mound and never really found it, finishing 65-97 while ranking 23rd in team ERA. Their first move toward addressing the problem was modest, bringing in Tony Neubeck from the Nationals, but it hardly changes the larger picture for a staff that needs far more than a depth add to get back on track.
That is why Bob Nightengales mention of San Francisco as a possible suitor for Tarik Skubal stands out. A pitcher of that caliber would push the Giants into a market they have not often occupied, especially with Skubal expected to command a contract big enough to limit the field to only the most financially aggressive teams. For a club trying to climb out of a rough season, the question is not just whether it needs an ace, but whether it is willing to chase one at that level. [Read more 🡒]