Cubs Trade With Diamondbacks for Catcher

The Chicago Cubs have re-acquired a familiar face to provide some catching depth in their organization, as they send cash considerations to the Arizona Diamondbacks for P.J. Higgins.

The Des Moines Register reported the transaction, indicating that an injury to Dom Nunez at Triple-A Iowa may have necessitated the deal.

Higgins has been assigned to the Iowa Cubs. He is currently on the reserve list.

Higgins signed with the Diamondback in the offseason but has played with the D-backs this season. He’s been at the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate in Reno, where he slashed .317/.407/.473/.880 with six home runs and 46 RBI.

The Cubs drafted Higgins out of Old Dominion in the 12th round of the 2015 MLB Draft. He worked his way through the Cubs organization before making his MLB debut on May 19, 2021. His season later ended with a partially torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery.

He recovered quickly enough to make his 2022 debut with the Cubs on May 22. He later hit his first career grand slam in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He slashed .229/.310/.383/.693 with six home runs and 30 RBI in 74 games for the Cubs, who designated him for assignment in late December of last year. Higgins opted for free agency and later signed with Arizona.