12:15pm: The teams have now announced the trade.
11:16am: The Dodgers are optioning Miguel Vargas to Triple-A to open a spot on the roster for Biggio, reports Jack Harris of the L.A. Times. Vargas has hit well in his tiny sample of work this season, but the Dodgers have moved him from the infield to left field this year and don’t have much playing time available for him at the moment. Vargas has just one plate appearance in the past five days and has only appeared in three games this month despite being on the active roster since mid-May.
Meanwhile, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet adds that the Jays are sending some cash to the Dodgers in the trade. It’s not clear how much, but the Dodgers won’t take on the full $2.49MM remaining on Biggio’s salary. They’ll still pay a 110% tax on whatever portion of his contract they do absorb, however, just as the Jays will pay a 30% tax on any cash included to offset Biggio’s salary.
8:30am: The Dodgers and Blue Jays are in agreement on a trade sending infielder/outfielder Cavan Biggio from Toronto to Los Angeles in exchange for a minor league player, reports Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Minor league righty Braydon Fisher is heading back to Toronto, reports ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Biggio was designated for assignment earlier in the week. The Dodgers have an open 40-man roster spot, so they’ll only need to clear space on the active, 26-man roster for Biggio.
The trade formally closes the book on Biggio’s tenure with the Blue Jays after nearly a decade-long run. Selected in the fifth-round of the 2016 draft, the now-29-year-old Biggio emerged as one of the organization’s better prospects prior to his debut and looked early in his career to be a potential core member of the Jays. From 2019-20, Biggio batted .240/.368/.430 with 24 home runs and 20 steals in roughly one full season’s worth of playing time (159 games, 695 plate appearances). His massive walk rate and blend of power, speed and defensive versatility made him one of the more intriguing young players on the Jays’ roster, setting up a potential core trio of second-generation talents alongside Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
As those high-profile teammates blossomed into All-Stars for the Jays, however, Biggio trended in the other direction. Over the next two seasons, he turned in a tepid .213/.320/.353 batting line with 13 homers and seven steals. His strikeout rate climbed from 2020’s mark of 23% into the upper-20s, and Biggio’s walk rate dropped by three percentage points as well. He rebounded to post roughly league-average numbers at the plate in a limited role last year but has slipped to .200/.323/.291 with a career-worst 32% strikeout rate this season.
Overall, since that promising 2019-20 start to his career, Biggio has batted .219/.327/.351 with a 12.1% walk rate against a 27.5% strikeout rate. That production comes despite a fair bit of platooning. Biggio has mostly even platoon splits in his career, but the overwhelming amount of his production against lefties came back in 2019-20. His bat fell off against southpaws, in particular, in 2021 (.200/.290/.250), and the Jays began limiting his time against lefties more regularly in subsequent seasons.
Flawed as he may have been over his past several seasons, Biggio is a sensible flyer for a Dodgers club that has received minimal production out of second base (and, to a lesser extent, left field) in 2024. The bottom of the L.A. lineup has been an issue throughout the season. Veterans like Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez have struggled immensely, as has former top prospect Gavin Lux, who’s been the team’s primary second baseman but hit just .223/.277/.297 through 188 trips to the plate in his return after his 2023 season was wiped out by a torn ACL.
Biggio passed five years of major league service time earlier this season, meaning he can’t be optioned to Triple-A without his consent. He’ll likely join the big league roster and do so at the expense one of those struggling veterans. Lux has minor league options remaining and could be sent down in order to preserve maximum depth.
Biggio could step in as the Dodgers’ primary second baseman against right-handed pitching, perhaps taking a seat on the bench in favor of star Mookie Betts against lefties. Veteran Miguel Rojas could handle shortstop on those days. It’s also possible that Biggio could see some time at third base, where the Dodgers are currently without Max Muncy (oblique strain). Hernandez has filled in at the hot corner in Muncy’s absence but is hitting just .207/.277/.314 on the season. Biggio has plenty of outfield experience as well, but with Teoscar Hernandez, Andy Pages and Jason Heyward all healthy at the moment, there’s a greater need in the infield.
Biggio is earning a $4.21MM salary this season and has about $2.49MM of that sum left to be paid out. The Dodgers are in the top luxury bracket and will pay a 110% tax on that salary, meaning they’re effectively spending a bit more than $5MM to acquire Biggio. He’s controlled through next season via arbitration, so if he’s able to turn things around following the change of scenery, Biggio could be a multi-year piece for the Dodgers. The Blue Jays are also luxury tax payors at present, so they’ll save not only that $2.49MM but also a 30% tax hit on that sum.
In addition to sheer cost savings, the Blue Jays will pick up a 23-year-old righty whom the Dodgers selected with their fourth-round pick back in 2018. Fisher is a pure relief prospect who has missed bats in massive quantities throughout his minor league tenure but as also regularly battled subpar command. He’s worked to a combined 5.68 earned run average between Double-A and his first taste of Triple-A work this season. Nearly all of the damage against him came in one meltdown outing that saw him yield six runs in just 1 2/3 innings late last month.
This season, Fisher has struck out exactly one-third of his opponents (30 of 90) but also walked one-sixth of them (15). The 6’4″ Texas native punched out 30.8% of his opponents in 2022 and 32.7% of them last season but also logged walk rates of 17% and 13.4% in those respective seasons.
Given that Fisher has climbed to Triple-A this season, he could be an option for the Blue Jays in the short term. His walk rates are an obvious red flag, but it’s hard not to be intrigued by a relief prospect who’s regularly whiffed 30-33% of his opponents while posting gaudy swinging-strike rates along the way.
Digdugler
power move
Digdugler
But in all seriousness, he is a pretty cromulent “glue guy”, you just dont want him taking more than 1 AB a game max.
DiarrheaJenkins - Oceangate Survivor
He really embiggens the team.
SteveFinleyEnthusiast
Cavan “Jebediah Springfield” Biggio
gcg27
You can come up with something better than that. lol
Shadow Banned
Good move. Chris Taylor 2.0?
steelehere83
As long as it’s not the 2024 version.
I speak the truth
.100 hitting Chris Taylor?
Dumpster Divin Theo
Cromu wot
BlueSkies_LA
Lent.
Meaning, adequate. Our word of the day.
A'sfaninLondonUK
@Blue Skies
I like the word of the day.
Not sure it applies to Biggio though…
BlueSkies_LA
Subcromunlent?
Dumpster Divin Theo
Fancy pantsy version of meh
paddyo furnichuh
Definitely not a scrumtrulescent move.
fox471 Dave
Also, satisfactory, as I recall.
metsfan1992
Watch the Dodgers make him the second coming of his Dad Craig lol
scissormetimbers
That’s a power Ross Atkins move, I’d expect nothing less.
Shadow Banned
He’ll bat .274 with the Dodgers. That’s my guess
therealt_rev
Future HOF now….
MoneyBallJustWorks
yep he of his 330 hits at age 29
vaderzim
Maybe future Hall of Very Good in his 30s, like Justin Turner.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Even if Cavan hits like Craig from 29 until he’s 40 hes still not making HOF
ckc12537
what if he does what edgar did
Dumpster Divin Theo
More like Justine Turner amirite
steelehere83
Isn’t everyone in the HOF ‘Very Good’?
I never understood the Hall of Very Good cliche as the comparative and superlative of the word ‘good’ isn’t ‘Hall of Fame’ it’s ‘Better’ and ‘Best’.
Manfred Rob's Earth Band
Andy Rooney comment of the day!
Coys Bacon
Vada Pinson and Jim Kaat are examples of Hall of Very Good but not enough for the HOF. Of course the issue of the enshrined that probably should not be. Even if you use the stats of their era. That’s another issue.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Don Sutton x 1000
Dumpster Divin Theo
Find 40 acres of very good
No Salary Cap For You! (Come Back One Year)
except didn’t Kaat finally get enshrined? I’d add Dave Kingman to that HOVG List.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Can finally retire on his 40 acres
GooseGoslinGuy
Kaat enshrined in 2022.
fox471 Dave
Not Kaat, definitely Pinson.
Coys Bacon
If Kingman got in then Adam Dunn should. And he wouldn’t. Dunn could take walks. Kingmaker didn’t walk at all. Barely hit 200 some seasons in an era that was not a more common occurrence. Like Rob Deer almost. Kingman was a great athlete and pitched too early in his career.
Al Oliver is someone that like Pinson was almost there. He was not anywhere as good of a fielder or base runner as Pinson.
Coys Bacon
Tommy John. Longevity counts for something and without his arm issues he wins 300. Plus the famous surgery.
Is Dr Jobe in the HOF?
BlueSkies_LA
Yes, he is.
Denunzio
Chris Taylor’s days as a Dodger might be ending sooner than later.
Fever Pitch Guy
Denunzio – Kike hasn’t exactly been lighting it up either. I think eating $2M of his contract is more palatable than eating $24M of Taylor’s.
StreakingBlue
Don’t comment if you don’t understand the dynamics of a team
Fever Pitch Guy
Blue – Don’t post here if you don’t want others to.
njbirdsfan
Just admit you put all your eggs in the Yamamoto/Ohtani basket and so the 6-9 holes in your lineup have to be filled with guys who have no business starting for a contender and move on.
voteforpedro
Hardly true. The contenders for that 6-9 spot include guys who have a productive track record but are currently scuffling (Taylor, Hernandez), a former top prospect finding form after injury (Lux), and talented rookie who has shown promise (Pages), and Jason Heyward who exceeded .800 OPS last year, and is almost up to .800 this year after returning from a long injury sting. They have four months to figure out the right combination of players for the stretch run. That said, can’t say I understand the Biggio move at all..
CommentsSectionCommenter
@njbirdsfan
What a stupid comment. Just admit you’re still hurt that your team didn’t sign either–and won’t be signing Sasaki either–and are now wish-casting nonsense….
Dumpster Divin Theo
No you don’t comment
vtadave
Kike has been hitting much better lately and even hitting .207, he’s been much better than Taylor (who hasn’t?). I don’t think the Dodgers would bat an eye at eating $24 million.
GooseGoslinGuy
Hell, Ohtani could gamble that away in a week.
StreakingBlue
I bet you disappear before that happens. Bad take
letitbelowenstein
Ah, Chris Taylor. How does one go 9-for-90? And still keep a spot on the roster?
Fever Pitch Guy
letit – Too much money to eat, and he was decent last year so it’s a little early to give up on him.
its_happening
A sick salary keeps him on. For now.
Shadow Banned
Chris has enough playoff success and equity to warrant that spot.
njbirdsfan
Steve Garvey had a nice long career and would probably go about 9 for 90.
At some point past performance has to be overlooked in favor of the current.
steelehere83
At 75 years old, I doubt Steve Garvey gets a base hit in 90 at bats. Someone 35 years younger like Hanley Ramirez would struggle to do so.
terrymesmer
If Steve Garvey returned to MLB, he would go 0-for-650, impregnate three ball girls, and declare bankruptcy twice.
its_happening
Seems Garv would still produce better results than Cavan based on this.
junkyard
And replace Frank Thomas as the spokesperson for Nugenix
taran7
9-90? That’s better than I thought.
GooseGoslinGuy
Joey Gallo: Hold my beer.
Martin Maldonado: Hold my keg.
whyhayzee
The Red Sox didn’t need him because they already have Big Gio. Oh wait, he’s out for the year.
letitbelowenstein
The Sox are banking on their double play combo of the mid 2020’s, Mayer-to-Yorke-to-Tris. AL East clubs are shaking in their cleats.
whyhayzee
Mayer Yorke Casas.
Where Ed Koch lives.
How’m I doin’?
math
@whyhayzee Too clever for the likes of this site.
JoeBrady
The implication being that they should’ve traded for Biggio to replace Giolito?
Dumpster Divin Theo
He’d be replacing Rico Petrocelli on the north end. On Wednesdays
30 Parks
Dodgers will sort-him-out – Biggio has a lot to offer & I wish him well in LA.
SkenesandSlopes
No hit tool, little power, mediocre defense and decent speed? Sounds like a lot to offer!!
NoSaint
@letitbelowenstein
Rumour has it that he was the one in the club house that knew how to operate the cappuccino/espresso machine. The Dodgers got a pretty good barista in the deal.
NYCityRiddler
Are you delusional he has nothing to offer, he’s a hack, a bum, a bust! Wake up & smell the power steering fluid. Ahahaha!
Windowpane
He is blessed by having that surname. He might have been out of baseball a long time ago without it.
Liberalsteve
pure jealousy and hating^^^ Zero to back that up
Windowpane
His career statistics. Easy Google search. Guys like him are a dime a dozen. His surname kept the Jays thinking there was more talent there.
Liberalsteve
An average of 2 wins a year. No, they aren’t a “dime a dozen” OWNED
its_happening
Cavan averaged a loss in real baseball. 2 wins. Against about 10 losses based on his play.
CBeisbol
it’s
Citation requested
its_happening
Depends on what you’d consider statistically as the opposite of WAR. Loss Below Level? LBL. A new mathematical equation that measures liability.
My citation is 5 years watching him disappoint or be prevented from disappointing by being benched.
CBeisbol
it’s
So, none at all. As everyone knew. Gotcha
To inform and reduce your ignorance, WAR is Wins Above Replacement. The opposite of “above” is “below”. Thus, a player who has contributed negatively to a team is generally said to be “below replacement”.
njbirdsfan
It’s just funny the hills people will die on for certain guys.
The backs of baseball cards don’t lie.
There are God knows how many guys in the minors who could put up Biggios numbers at a fraction of the cost. But you’ll never know because their last name isn’t Biggio.
Liberalsteve
Do they have over 7 war in under 2000 ab’s? idi0t.
Windowpane
Nothing demonstrates a losing argument better than tired ad hominem attacks. So sad.
Liberalsteve
Irony based on what you wrote. And you got owned
Wren
what is wrong w you? oh you’re a lib never mind
Windowpane
Sorry you thought I was talking about you. Lol.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Nepobaby. Like Coldplay girl
Digdugler
What no one outside of Jays fans talk about is that he strikes out LOOKING more than anyone in the history of the MLB. (I dont know how to find out this data, I hope MLBTR researchers are able to)
its_happening
Maybe strikeout looking per 100 at bats. Remember, he hasn’t been good enough to start which took away crucial strikeout opportunities.
Dumpster Divin Theo
He’s easily distracted like a shaggy Golden retriever. Ball 2. Strike 1. Time to focus. Wot that? Car!!!
28rings
another negative dWAR infielder – just what the Dodgers ordered
solaris602
So now instead of having 3 bums on the roster who can’t hit, they’ll have four? I know Taylor’s contract makes it hard to get him off the roster, but I think someone in that group has to be tossed overboard. TOR is lucky they got SOMETHING in return for Biggio.
Windowpane
His salary is keeping Taylor on the roster? This is the Dodgers.
steelehere83
It’s a combination of salary and the luxury tax the Dodgers pay plus the team’s loyalty to a veteran that’s been with the team for nine seasons and has had an OPS+ at or above 100 every year but one since his breakout season in 2017 going into 2024.
Windowpane
It’s the Dodgers. I’m skeptical that the front office is concerned about eating his salary. Payroll, even taking the luxury tax into account, is not a problem for them, as recent history has demonstrated.
Rugga
Good luck to Cavan. Seems a nice guy and if in a hot streak makes a decent bench/utility guy. His time just ran out with the Jays it seems, maybe the Dodgers find a way to help him catch up to fastballs.
Jerry Hairston Jr's Toupee
Cornering the market in mediocre bench guys….
fox471 Dave
Leading the division for the 10th year out of 11.
Jerry Hairston Jr's Toupee
Setting the bar low….
Old York
Guy’s minor numbers weren’t even great. He should have been released from the minors years ago.
its_happening
Yet, many Cavan apologists weren’t happy about Horwitz being called up. Horwitz’ minor league numbers are much better than what Cavan’s were. “But Horwitz needs to walk more!!!”
Mojo37
Biggio’s got 3 Minor League options left.
Mojo37
I was wrong about this. His service time this season now means he cannot be optioned to the minors without his consent.
its_happening
His play warranted a demotion in 2022.
iknoweverythingesq
But he’s a 5 year guy. He’d need to agree.
its_happening
Not in 2022 did he have 5 years service.
Chiefs 2022
Another team should have traded for him not the Dodgers. They don’t need him. He will never see the field .
Senioreditor
He’ll see it this week for sure.
TellItGoodbye
He saw it and he cost LA the game with his error. Brilliant move based on his last name.
steelehere83
He’ll very likely start today if the Rangers announce that a right handed pitcher is starting.
BlueSkies_LA
Looks like a bullpen game for the Rangers.
CTS4
I was hoping this announcement was shapiro and useless atkins have been fired….darn
jimmertee
Shapiro needs to be moved by the board to a strict financial role and Atkins fired. A new President of Baseball operations is needed. Keep Shapiro away from all player personnel decisions in the organization..
whyhayzee
RIP Jerry West. Huge basketball fan growing up, little use for the game now, ala John Wooden.
Those Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, Bullets, Pistons, Bulls, et al. Great hard nosed athletes giving one hundred percent every night.
Today’s game involves too much traveling. Pun intended.
cooperhill
Only still in the majors because of his last name!
Blackpink in the area
725 career OPS
TellItGoodbye
Which means nothing because it was inflated by the 2019 juiced ball season and has steadily declined since then.
Blackpink in the area
7.4 WAR in 1483 career at bats.
That means nothing too right?
TellItGoodbye
Yep. Joke of a stat.
Blackpink in the area
OPS no good. WAR no good.
What stats do you use fella?
NoSaint
@Blackpink in the area
You are correct. The batting component of WAR is based on PA’s not AB’s.
TellItGoodbye
I never said OPS is no good, I was referring specifically to saying Cavan is somehow good because of 1.5 inflated good years.
Blackpink in the area
So career doesn’t matter only recent history? If that was true then why in earth did the aways sign Kalefa?
NoSaint
@Blackpink in the area
Providing the sampling size is sufficiently large enough, recent history is better indicator of who the player is now. If you want to get into the nuts and bolts, doing a rolling 30 PA’s or 50 PA’s is a really good indicator of a player’s offensive ability.
TellItGoodbye
Because “Kalefa” has had an incredibly consistent stat line for his career. Pretty much .650 OPS every year. You know what you’re getting. Cavan has not. Career numbers can be so misleading. Signing someone based on what they did for 1.5 yrs 4-5 years ago is kooky. 100% LA DFAs him when Muncy returns, if not before. And then even his name won’t get him another MLB stint. At least it shouldn’t.
Blackpink in the area
Career numbers are not misleading
Good lord……
NoSaint
@Blackpink in the area
George Springer’s career wRC+ of 110 is between above average and borderline good. George Springer’s wRC+ this year is 73. That’s pretty much unplayable. Still think career numbers aren’t misleading ?
Blackpink in the area
Springer is old knucklehead
TellItGoodbye
Well they are and they’re not. Year by year trends over a career or even games within a season are very informative and predictive, but a career average of stats is not.
Blackpink in the area
Biggio is playing at a 2 win pace THIS YEAR IN 2024!!!!
NoSaint
With only 137 PA so far it way too early to start predicting what his end of season fWAR will be. When he gets to 200 PA’s that will take out a lot of statistical noise.
YaGottaBelieveAgain
A change of scenery, different coaches, different team culture.
He shouldn’t feel any pressure to provide offense. maybe he can concentrate on his defense. He could add some speed if he could walk more and try to hit line drives and not power. Low risk opportunity.
its_happening
Change his hand position. Lower them in his set up. Never understood why the Jays didn’t adjust that.
jimmertee
Biggio had a huge hole in his swing when he first got to the bigs and it was never fixed. The Jays staff tried to teach him a “hit the ball where it is pitched” swing repair in the 2023 offseason but that didn’t work.
Any pitcher who can excute high inside and low and away strike out strategy can get Biggio almost every time.
NoSaint
So a AAAA player is worth a 35+ FV (fangraphs) prospect. This smells as just a salary dump.
bestone
Fisher, Fisher…..any relation to Derek Fisher? (Inventor of the “face glove”)
its_happening
But look at all the team control the Jays received.
bestone
Jays are to ship a wheelbarrow of cash along side Biggio. I wonder if the payments can be delayed for a few years?
its_happening
Cavan can’t get the Bobby Bo treatment. He isn’t even Chico Walker.
steelehere83
Let’s just say that the chances of Braydon and Derek Fisher being related are about as likely as Kanye and Jerry West (RIP) being related.
StudWinfield
IKF rocking a 101ops+ and 2.2 bwar so far. I guess giving him $15 mill for 2 years wasn’t such a bad idea.
Blackpink in the area
Biggio has a career OPS+ of 101. Exactly the same.
StudWinfield
Point being…?
its_happening
Depends on what was behind door number 2. I like IKF. I like him better with better hitters the Jays forgot to acquire this past offseason.
Michael K. Igawa
I LIKE IFK
They should make a button that says that.
TellItGoodbye
Worn by a confused voter in 1960?
JerseyShoreScore
Another dead weight mediocre player that should not be on the Dodgers Roster…
Taylor, Kiki Hernandez, Gavin Lux, they all stink… Biggio fits well in that barrel of mediocrity. Would have preferred saving the $5 million wasted on Biggio, and put it towards DFAing Taylor or even Kiki to give Andre Lipcius a chance. Lipcius might stink too, but we already know that barrel of mediocrity provide no upside…
At least Miguel Rojas is an elite defender who is the best of the bad bench options on the flawed Dodgers roster.
Probably means Vargas gets optioned to AAA..
vtadave
Lux and Kike have been looking a lot better as of late. Taylor not so much. Pretty sure the Dodgers will figure out the 6-9 spots by the deadline.
Stieb Cooperstown
the Dodgers are gettting a ball player. he was beloved in the Jays club house and the Jays will miss his high baseball IQ. a real change of scenario candidate.
TellItGoodbye
He’s not a change of scenery candidate as much as he is a change of career candidate.
NoSaint
@TellItGoodbye
I dunno. A couple of years ago I thought Biggio for Robles was a pretty fair trade. Both with some upside, both making about the same in arb, and both not getting that much playing time.
Oldguy58
Seeing what they gave up sure why not. It’s not much of a gamble for the Dodgers, they’re betting they can help him improve .
Inside Out
Awful move by Dodgers. If his last name wasn’t Biggio would be lucky to play independent baseball. What a waste of money.
math
How is it awful? It cost them nothing. The most likely outcome is that it doesn’t move the needle at all. The only way it’s awful is if Fisher ends up an impact MLB arm, which seems significantly less likely than Biggio hitting above .200 against RHP.
its_happening
Better teach this kid some control before he kills somebody.
JoeBrady
fffbbb
Awful move by Dodgers. If his last name wasn’t Biggio would be lucky to play independent baseball.
===========================
Do you think the Dodgers traded for Biggio because he has the same last name as a player that NEVER played for the Dodgers?
That might be the strangest opinion I have ever read in here.
Windowpane
Believe it or not, there are people in the front office who know who Craig Biggio was, even though he never played for the Dodgers. Your comment is the strange one.
CBeisbol
Bel8eve it or not, there are people who work at the grocery store (or whatever) and comment here that thing front offices are as dumb as they are
JoeBrady
Windowpane
The chances of the Dodgers signing Biggio, for no other reason than his dad was a BB player, is -0-.
Windowpane
What is your position in the Dodgers’ front office? I will contend that pedigree matters.
JoeBrady
The LAD FO looks pretty good. Is there anyone else on the team that they acquired based solely on his last name?
CBeisbol
Window
* I will contend that pedigree matters.”
Based on what?
BlueSkies_LA
Complete ignorance? Lots of stuff is these days.
Windowpane
History.
CBeisbol
Window
Provide your evidence
It might take more than one word, or a few sentences
highflyballintorightfield
Vargas hasn’t been given much playing time, and he needs a lot more OF work to be a viable utility player. That said I hope Biggio does not have a long leash (even if he only has to be better than Lux).
nosake
Glad you mentioned Vargas. Do you recall that pop up where he and Pages were covering the ball? Vargas was staring hate daggers at Pages for swooping in. From that moment, I wondered how long he’d last on the team.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Overpay
Josh Ua.
He looks like a fooking Dodger
Echopark
Hmmmm.. Lux is beginning to hit and he’s playing good D at 2nd. They are both left-handed. So it’s a bit of a head scratcher if they are thinking 2B.
Dodgers are down a left-handed outfielder – so maybe there is some LF time for him and a temporary platoon situation at 3B?
Outman is playing well in AAA. So not sure why they didn’t just recall him if they want a LH outfielder – although maybe they want to give him some more time to make sure he’s ready to come back up?
I imagine Vargas gets sent down – unless there is an injury we don’t know about. Not because he has not had a good showing, but because it’s just better for him to get regular at bats. and continue to improve his defense.
My fantasy is that Chris Taylor agrees to a trip to AAA to get straightened out. (Phantom IL has become less of an option.) Of course, he has to agree, but maybe at this point he is so desperate to get back on track, he agrees?
This for sure means Muncy is going to be out a lot longer than they originally thought.
norcalblue
Agree with all your points Echo. Kind of a head scratcher as you say.
Jays are probably putting up enough dough here that this becomes almost an irrelevant story quickly. My guess is that as soon as Muncy returns Biggio is jettison. They are not happy with Kiki’s defense at third and this is just confirmation that Muncy is going to take more time to rehab than initially thought.
Much like the succession of relief pitchers they’ve been picking up, only to discard when a slightly better option emerges.
Biggio’s best case scenario with the Dodgers is that Friedman finally bites the bullet on CT3 and Cavan Is the next Swiss Army knife.
steelehere83
This is mainly so that the Dodgers have a lefty bat to platoon with Keekay Hernandez at third base while Muncy is out.
norcalblue
Agree s83. In a nutshell, yours is the simplest and most logical explanation.
BlueSkies_LA
Muncy being out longer than originally thought we already know. Vargas is the most obvious option candidate to make room for Biggio.
cdouglas24000
Cavan has always been overrated based on his father’s name. Yeah he walks a goofy amount, but man does he look bad on misses on breaking pitches. He isn’t much of a fielder and he goes thru incredibly long slumps. Blue jays held onto him WAYYYY too long.
TellItGoodbye
His name is the only reason he’s stuck around. So bizarre.
Windowpane
Not bizarre at all.
THEY LIVE!!!
Biggio is like picking up another donut tire. Imagine the Porsche with 4 donut tires on it.
A'sfaninLondonUK
@They live…
That would be an Audi. .
brodie-bruce
@a’s
Technically there both Volkswagens anyway
JerseyShoreScore
Biggio fits well in the bottom tier of Dodgers hitters… He will compete for who is the worst between Rojas, Barnes, Kiki Hernandez, Chris Taylor, and Gavin Lux.
If you want a snapshot of why October 2024 will be another disappointing month for the Dodgers…
There you go!
BlueSkies_LA
Rojas is batting .269 on the season. Barnes is a backup catcher who plays maybe once a week and is hitting about as well as anyone in that limited role. After a bad start Lux is now holding his own batting over .300 in the last couple of weeks.
There you go!
GooseGoslinGuy
Is the standard now “the last couple of weeks”? Lux is batting .223. His OBP is .277.
fox471 Dave
Poor Goose. Pay attention!
jagonza
1) why trade for him , no one was going to claim him
2) is he really better than everyone in their system
3) Miguel Vargas was looking like he might stick , no he is sacrificed for ?
BlueSkies_LA
1) Apparently not the case. Dodgers are near the bottom of the waiver claim list. They jumped the queue by offering something in return.
2) Probably not everyone, just for the positions they need filled right now. He also might not be around for long.
3) Vargas was sent to OKC, not Siberia. He’ll be back.
GooseGoslinGuy
Agree. Curious move.
lakeg
The Dodgers have been lauded for their farm system and how well they develop players! The reality is that, other than the Guardians, few teams have been promoting pitchers with as much positive results on the big stage, albeit with the major caveat of creating a waiting list for Tommy John (a Dodger at the time) Surgeries or any other variant! They have been running their pitchers into the ground for decades going back to Sandy Koufax. Their motto sounds like “If you can pick up a ball, you can throw it… get on the mound and don’t complain!”
On the other side of the ball, developing hitters is quite the opposite. They can’t seem to be able to have sustained success on offense with their home grown position players. Going back to 2000, here’s the list of draft choices that made a semi-lasting impact on the Dodgers line-up:
1st round: Will Smith (2016 – 17.2WAR), Corey Seager (2012 – 34.3 WAR), James looney (2002- 11.3 WAR)
4th round: Cody Bellinger (2013 – 23.2 WAR)
6th round: Matt Kemp (2003 – 21.4 WAR)
11th round: Joc Pederson (2010 – 13.6 WAR)
17th round: Russell Martin (2002 – 38.9 WAR)
Pretty bare cupboard in 20 years!
Butter Biscuits
I agree they could of grabbed him for just the min salary once he was dfa and pushing out Vargas is just dumb
YourDreamGM
Win win. Dodgers have yet to teach control. Jays get to give it a try. Excellent arm for them to pick up. Dodgers know what they are doing and seen something they think they can improve. Both fans should be pleased.
GooseGoslinGuy
About those taxes — 110%, 30% — who gets that money??? Taxes to whom??
dogs55
Win-Win …Win (which bottom-line, the Dodgers continue to do). Good move!
BetterMuppet:JUDGEorKERMIT?
I have the very first Biggio jersey ever made for public sale from the jays shop
Dear blue jays, will you buy it back from me? (Or Ohtani’s interpreter)
SkenesandSlopes
Like the girl that took a ball off the head a few weeks back, you’re stuck with it.
Jerry Hairston Jr's Toupee
Biggio with an error early on. Already fitting in with his new teammates….
Shady1771
Who gets the last laugh now?! Good on ya Cavan! Go from a sinking ship to a contender! Best trade Atkins has done and it’s not in the Jays favour! Now do us all a favour and trade yourself out of this organization!
TellItGoodbye
And Cavan costs El Lay the game last night with his error. Great pick up for the Dodger$!
BlueSkies_LA
Unfortunately I have to agree with you. Some pieces need to fall into place by next month for them to be a true postseason competitor. I think they could as some of the missing pieces are players on the IL since the start of the season, but they will need to go shopping for others.
taran7
I was going to read these comments but then I realized it was just going to be a bunch of yahoos trashing Biggio and the Dodgers.
Datashark
How long does LAD keep Taylor around – Maybe its the contract or familiarity for past work. It seems Hernandez and Taylor are two of the same where only 1 is needed if the other falters like Taylor has been.
Datashark
After Mookie, Ohtani, Freeman and smith its a huge drop off and their SPs are spotty outside of glasnow, but durability wise Stone is going to hit a wall in about 33 innings. Paxton will wear down its been awhile since he accounted for this many innings.
BlueSkies_LA
Really, 33 innings?
Datashark
he has no history of going over 100 innings so maybe he hits that wall much sooner
BlueSkies_LA
He’s a rookie, dude. He’s got almost no history at all. So your prediction is totally off the wall.
Datashark
Minor league history of usage counts.
BlueSkies_LA
For almost nothing.
MLBTR needs to hire editors
“Flawed as he may have been” is not proper English, Adams. You can’t just leave out “as” at the beginning of the sentence. Grammar isn’t optional.