Jonah Heim’s journey has taken a sharp turn from being the starting catcher on a World Series-winning team to becoming a major liability just two years later. It’s likely that he’ll be leaving Arlington sometime during the offseason, or even sooner if the right opportunity arises.
At 30 years old, Heim has been a consistent presence behind the plate since joining the Rangers in 2021. His path has been full of highs, including being named the starting All-Star catcher for the American League in 2023. He capped off that season with a World Series title and an AL Gold Glove award.
From being the starting catcher on a World Series-winning team to becoming a major liability just two years later, Jonah Heim’s future in Arlington is uncertain. It seems likely that he will be out of the picture this offseason—or even sooner, if the right opportunity presents itself.
Heim, 30, has been a reliable presence at catcher since his Rangers debut in 2021. His journey has included some high points, such as being named the starting All-Star catcher for the American League in 2023 and finishing the season with a World Series ring and an AL Gold Glove.
However, things have taken a downturn in the last two seasons. Since Opening Day 2024, Heim’s performance has plummeted, with a slash line of .218/.265/.339 and a .605 OPS, along with 22 home runs and 94 RBIs over 222 games. His struggles have intensified recently, as he’s hitting just .188 over his last 30 games.
As the Rangers prepare to face the Phillies at Globe Life Field this weekend, they’re sitting at 60-56 and 1.5 games behind an AL Wild Card spot. With the fourth-toughest remaining schedule in the league, the road ahead won’t be easy.
Rangers won’t replace Heim during the season
It’s starting to look like fans will have to accept Heim being in the lineup just two or three games a week for the time being.
While he might not be the Gold Glove-caliber catcher he was a couple of years ago, the drawbacks of replacing him now would probably outweigh the potential benefits. First off, it’s unlikely that the Rangers will find a catcher at this point in the season who can provide more value than Heim, which is saying something considering his recent struggles.
Moreover, the Rangers’ pitching rotation is having one of the best seasons in franchise history. While not every pitcher depends on Heim as their personal catcher, he still handles a significant number of starts from top pitchers like Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. It’s not that these guys couldn’t work with someone like Higashioka for the rest of the season, but pitchers are creatures of habit. If they’re performing well, disrupting their routine could do more harm than good.
Looking at both sides of the argument gives us a clearer picture. Heim will be arbitration-eligible in 2026, and he’s currently making just \$4.5 million this season. If his struggles continue, there’s a good chance he could come even cheaper next year. That could be a factor in whether the Rangers consider moving on from him sooner rather than later.
Who are the Rangers candidates to replace Heim this offseason?
Well the first name on that list is Higashioka, who signed a two-year contract prior to this season. If the organization decides to part ways with Heim at the end of the year, there’s no way they get rid of Higgy and leave the pitching staff unfamiliar with every catcher.
Beyond Higashioka, the list of catching free agents is bland. The biggest free agent for next year is J.T. Realmuto, who is in the final year of his five-year, $115 million deal he signed back in 2021 with the Phillies. Only issue with that is he’s already 34-years-old and he’s really just performing “averagely.”
When looking at unrestricted free-agent options, there are a few catchers who could be worthwhile targets: Victor Caratini, James McCann, and Jacob Stallings. Additionally, some notable players with mutual options in their contracts—Elias Diaz, Danny Jansen, and Mitch Garver—could hit free agency as well, making them worth considering.
In the farm system, the Rangers have Cooper Johnson, a 27-year-old catcher with Triple-A Round Rock, but he’s struggling this year. In 52 games with the Express, he’s posting a disappointing .209 average with just 4 home runs and 21 RBIs. The catchers at Double-A Frisco are also underperforming, so there isn’t much immediate help on the way from that level.
Texas does have a potential long-term option in Malcolm Moore, the team’s first-round pick in 2024 and second-ranked prospect. However, he’s still at least two years away from being ready for the big leagues, so he won’t be an immediate solution behind the plate.
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