Braves infielder/outfielder Cavan Biggio elected free agency this morning, per David O’Brien of The Athletic (X link). He’d been on Atlanta’s 40-man roster, so presumably Biggio cleared waivers before rejecting an outright assignment. He’ll now head to the open market in search of a new opportunity.
This was always the expected outcome for Biggio, whom Atlanta acquired in a September swap to help patch over an injury-plagued infield mix. He would’ve been arbitration-eligible with Atlanta and was projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for a $4.3MM salary. The Braves were never going to put forth that type of commitment to someone acquired in a late-season cash swap after he’d previously been with three different organizations.
Biggio spent his entire career with the Blue Jays prior to this past June, when he was designated for assignment and traded to the Dodgers. He appeared in 30 games for the Dodgers but fared no better in L.A. than he did in Toronto prior to being cut loose. He was designated for assignment a second time and released in early August. The Giants quickly added him on a minor league contract and then shipped him to Atlanta for cash — a post-deadline deal that was permissible because Biggio was on a minor league deal (and not a major league contract that had been outrighted off the roster) in San Francisco.
Overall, Biggio’s 2024 season resulted in a dreary .197/.314/.303 batting line. He still walked at a strong clip, drawing a free pass in 10.7% of his trips to the plate, but Biggio’s typically patient approach has become almost passive in the box. Among the 365 hitters who drew at least 200 plate appearances this season, Biggio’s 55% swing rate on pitches in the strike zone (per Statcast) ranked as the game’s 12th-lowest. He took more called strikes than he has at any point in his career, and this season’s 32.1% strikeout rate was unsurprisingly a career-worst.
Biggio debuted to considerable fanfare in 2019 and, for his first two seasons, looked like a building block alongside fellow second-generation Jays signees Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. From 2019-20, Biggio turned in a .240/.368/.430 batting line with 24 homers and 20 steals through his first 159 big league games. He walked at a ridiculous 16.1% clip, which helped offset a higher-than-average 26.5% strikeout rate.
It’s been a downward trajectory since that impressive showing, however. Biggio did manage a roughly league-average batting line in 111 games in 2023, but his overall body of work since that strong two-year start to his career is decidedly lackluster. In 1159 plate appearances dating back to Opening Day 2021, Biggio is a .216/.325/.349 hitter. He’s played all over the diamond, with 500-plus innings at each of second base, first base, third base and right field. Biggio draws solid grades for his glovework at second and in right field but isn’t a plus defender at either spot.
Any player who’s designated for assignment and released multiple times over the course of a given season appears likely to land a minor league deal in free agency the following offseason. That’s true of Biggio as well. It’s possible a team will give him a guaranteed roster spot on an incentive-laden deal, but a non-guaranteed pact and an invitation to spring training in 2025 feels far likelier. Given his age (30 in April), pedigree, plate discipline and early success in the majors, he ought to have several clubs interested in such an arrangement.
“Downward trajectory since”..I’m pretty sure Biggio is due a championship ring in ’24 since he spent a small amount of time on the Dodgers roster, just like Taylor Trammell.
The volleyball player? Um, ok i guess so
Please don’t let Jerry Dipoto see this.
Exactly! He’d fit right into the Mariners lineup with his .225 career average
Maybe one day they’ll stop looking for the next Dustin Ackley
Do you think he’ll accept a ring from the Dodgers
Wouldn’t you? I know I would. And I’d want every penny of my winner’s share. I can’t see the Dodgers players voting him a full share, but I’ve seen well liked players who didn’t play a big role get full shares before. Good luck to Biggio, because being a 27th player in MLB can’t be easy.
He would immediately improve the Angels roster.
Taking the 27th player on every team would help the Angels roster.
7 WAR player in 1500 career at bats. He’s 29 years old right in the middle of his prime. This guy might not be an all star but he’s certainly good enough for a big league roster.
His prime was a few years ago. Pitchers have figured out that they just have to be aggressive in the zone – he is just waiting for walks and has some holes in his swing.
With TOR I did notice he often had kinesiology tape on his upper back and neck. So maybe he has been dealing with a chronic injury. Maybe some recovery there offers some hope.
Otherwise, he is likely done as MLB regular.
He doesn’t have to be a regular. He’s worthy of a roster spot.
As a Jays fan it became clear high heat in the zone was his kryptonite.
Or collecting tokens at the bus station, exact change only please. Either way. Ahahahaha!
Which is a perfect example of how misleading WAR can be. Have a couple up years then plummet to the depths of your actual talent and you still can show off your little WAR stat.
He is most definitely NOT worthy of a roster spot on any team that plays baseball on any level anywhere on the planet, yet the name on his jersey keeps getting him contracts.
Well, at least he can hold over his dad that he’s only Biggio with a World Series ring.
His dad might insist he change his name to Caveat if he does…………
forever giant
I can see the White Sox taking a shot on him. And him agreeing to go to the Sox. They don’t have a lot of internal options who are decidedly better.
Leave him at second where his ceiling is Alomar and his floor is Lou Whitaker.
Biggio made a mistake going the FA route. Grocery stores aren’t going to get into a bidding war for a bag groceries.
Where’s daddy gonna get him a job next?
Angels?
watched Biggio from the time he came up to some of his Braves game. what he lacks in talent as a player, he makes up in baseball eq and knowledge. this is a future manager.
Biggio still has the same big hole in his swing that he had as a rookie. The league adjusted after his first year but he never adjusted back
He has very fast hands but the hand-to-eye-contact is just not superior MLB level. On the plus side he can play a lot of different positions in passing MLB caliber. Buyer beware.