Free-agent catcher Danny Jansen and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a two-year, $14.5 million contract that includes bonuses to get it to $15.5 million, according to sources familiar with the deal.
Jansen most recently played with the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers in 2025. Beginning the season with the Rays, Jansen slashed .204/.314/.389 with 11 home runs in 259 plate appearances for a 98 wRC+. Toward the trade deadline, the Rays sent him to his home state team, the Brewers. There, Jansen slashed .254/.346/.433 with three home runs in 78 games for a 119 wRC+, but didn’t feature in a playoff game for the Brewers.
The catcher was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 16th round of the 2013 draft. Selected from Appleton A. West High School in Appleton, Wisconsin, Jansen rose up the Blue Jays system and even became a top 100 prospect. In 2018, he made his big league debut, getting 95 plate appearances that season.
Throughout his Blue Jays’ career, Jansen dealt with numerous injuries that resulted in him never getting 400 plate appearances with the team. His best season was in 2022, when he slashed .260/.339/.516 with 15 home runs in just 248 plate appearances for a 141 wRC+ and 2.7 fWAR. The following season, Jansen hit a career-high 17 home runs.
Jansen’s final season as a Blue Jay was in 2024. He spent a portion of the season injured, and when healthy, he slashed .212/.303/.369 with six home runs in 228 plate appearances for a 93 wRC+.
Jansen will get opportunities with the Rangers, as he’s currently set to be their starting catcher. Backing him up will be veteran backstop Kyle Higashioka.