P.J.

Higgins

Higgins, 30, hit .210/.291/.348 in 254 plate appearances for the Cubs between 2021 and ’22 and .305/.382/.476 for a couple of Triple-A teams last season. He’ll offer Triple-A catching depth behind Tyler Stephenson and Luke Maile in the majors.

Higgins was shipped to Chicago on Saturday to bolster the Cubs’ catching depth in the upper minors. The 30-year-old backstop got into 74 contests last season for the Cubs before signing with the Diamondbacks in January.

It looks like Jose Herrera will serve as the Diamondbacks’ backup catcher to begin the season. The 29-year-old could make a return if Herrera were to struggle as the backup out the gate.

Higgins started the scoring in the slugfest with an RBI single in the opening inning, then came around to score on an RBI triple by Buddy Kennedy. He then crushed a solo homer off of Taylor Hearn in the fifth inning that increased the Diamondbacks’ edge to 6-3. Higgins added on an RBI double in the eighth to extend that lead to 10-6, then dashed around to score on a single off the bat of Phillip Evans. With Carson Kelly and Gabriel Montero in the fold, Higgins is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Reno.

Higgins provides the Diamondbacks with some extra catching depth behind starters Carson Kelly and Gabriel Moreno. The 29-year-old backstop got into 74 games last season for the Cubs, batting .229/.310/.383 with six homers and 30 RBI across 229 plate appearances. He’s a long shot to make Arizona’s Opening Day roster, but could wind up getting a shot if Moreno unexpectedly stumbles out of the gate.

Higgins will test the open market rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Iowa. The 29-year-old backstop went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment in late December by the Cubs. He should be able to latch on somewhere else this offseason as extra catching depth.

Higgins, 29, was designated for assignment after the team signed Tucker Barnhart. The backstop will provide depth for the Cubs at the backstop position, assuming he doesn’t elect free agency.

It clears room on the 40-man roster for Tucker Barnhart after his deal became official Thursday. The 29-year-old could be a trade or waiver-claim candidate for a team looking for catching depth, and will likely report back to Triple-A Iowa if teams do not show interest.

Higgins put the Cubs’ lone run of the game on the board when he notched an RBI single against Mike Minor in the bottom of the second inning. Through 157 at-bats this season, the 29-year-old backstop is slashing .223/.291/.395 with six homers and 23 RBI. This was Higgins’ first two-hit game in over a month.

Contreras missed the Cubs’ entire three-game weekend series in St. Louis due to renewed discomfort in his left ankle, and now he’ll remain sidelined through at least the middle of next week. Yan Gomes and P.J. Higgins figure to share starts behind the plate in his absence. Gomes is getting the start there on Tuesday night against the visiting Reds.