The Chicago Cubs have officially announced the signing of free agent Tucker Barnhart. The switch-hitting catcher has agreed to a two-year contract with the Cubs, guaranteeing him $6.5 million through the 2024 season. The 31-year-old has the ability to opt out after next season.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Cubs have DFA’d catcher and infielder P.J. Higgins. The right-handed hitter played in 74 games with the Cubs in 2022, primarily behind the plate and first base, but he also had a couple starts at third base.
In the last week, the Cubs have also DFA’d left-handed hitter Alfonso Rivas and right-handed relief pitcher Erich Uelmen.
The Cubs now have three catchers on their 40-man roster, as Barnhart and Yan Gomes are penciled into the Opening Day roster in 2023, while prospect Miguel Amaya will begin next season at Triple-A. Barnhart is a two-time Gold Glove winner, who is coming off a rough year with the Detroit Tigers. You can read more about Barnhart’s career and what he can bring to the Cubs here.
As for Higgins, like Rivas and Uelmen, he could pass through waivers unclaimed and at that point the Cubs could bring him back into the organization. However, if Higgins does not get claimed by another team, then he will have the option to elect free agency and sign with a different team.
There is also a scenario in which the Cubs work out a trade of Higgins while he is on waivers.
The Cubs selected Higgins in the 12th round of the 2015 draft out of Old Dominion. He spent his first season in the Cubs organization playing second, third and shortstop before the team moved him to catcher in 2016. Higgins got his first cup of coffee in the majors in 2021, first called up in May of that season. He stayed on the roster for about three weeks and played in nine games.
In 2022, Higgins got more playing time, and although he was praised for his game-calling, the bat didn’t stay hot after getting off to a good start in May and June. Higgins ended the 2022 season with a slash line of .229/.310/.383, with six home runs in 201 at-bats. He wasn’t flat out terrible, but was still below league average in a season where offense was down across the board.
Higgins is now 29-years-old and with the versatility to play the corner infield positions along with catching, he could very likely get claimed off waivers. At the very least he would be a good depth signing for a team in need of a guy who has experience handling MLB pitching staffs.
All the best to Higgins and who knows, maybe he will stick around with the Cubs after all. We’ll keep you updated on Higgins, Rivas and Uelmen, to see if they are eventually claimed off waivers or not.
UPDATE
Catcher and infielder P.J. Higgins did clear waivers, but he has elected free agency instead of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A with the Cubs.
Higgins has signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
