Acquired from the Blue Jays in June, Biggio played four positions with Los Angeles and started games at third base and first base.
Cavan Biggio played four different positions and played in four different organizations in 2024, with the Dodgers his second stop this season.
After a strong first two years in 2019-20, Biggio struggled for three years in Toronto and got off to another slow start this season, hitting just .200/.323/.291. The Dodgers were in a rough spot in early June with Max Muncy out with a strained oblique, as well as rough starts at the plate for Chris Taylor, Kiké Hernández, and Gavin Lux.
While Biggio wasn’t very good with Toronto, at the time the left-handed hitter represented a possible upgrade against right-handed pitchers for the Dodgers, who sent minor league reliever Braydon Fisher to the Blue Jays in the June 12 trade:
Biggio this year has a 93 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers, and in his career has a 105 wRC+ against righties (though not much of a career platoon split, with a 100 wRC+ against lefties). Biggio in his career is a .227/.343/.382 hitter with a 103 wRC+ in parts of six major league seasons.
This feels to me like the Dodgers getting a left-hander to pair with the right-handed Kiké Hernández at third base with Muncy out. Much like last year’s trade deadline, acquiring both Hernández and Amed Rosario, both essentially replacement level or below at the time, because the Dodgers needed warm bodies who hit right-handed.
The Dodgers started Biggio at third base in nine of the first 10 games against right-handers after the trade, but he didn’t really hit at all. He wasn’t alone, as the amalgam of third baseman in the 80 games Muncy was on the injured list hit a paltry .195/.267/.296 with six home runs.
Biggio with the Dodgers started 13 games at third base and eight games at first base, the latter when Freddie Freeman was with his son Max in the hospital. Biggio also saw time in second base and right field. But he just didn’t hit much, with an 86 wRC+. He was slightly better against right-handers with a 94 wRC+, which was essentially what they traded for.
When Freeman returned on August 5, Biggio was the roster casualty, getting designated for assignment. Five days later he was released.
Biggio signed a minor league deal with the Giants on August 23, but never got called up from Triple-A. He was traded on September 7 to the Braves, who suffered several infield injuries. He played in four games for Atlanta, starting once. He finished up two games against the Dodgers but only batted once in those contests, striking out against Daniel Hudson on September 16.
With the Blue Jays, Dodgers, and Braves this season, Biggio hit .197/.314/.303 with a 84 wRC+ in 78 games and 224 plate appearances.
2024 particulars
Age: 29
Stats: 30 games, .192/.306/.329, 86 wRC, 3 HR with Dodgers
Salary: $4.21 million (Dodgers responsible for roughly $2.2 million)
Game of the year
Biggio had an RBI double and solo home run against the Astros in Houston on July 27, his only game of the season with multiple extra-base hits.
Cavan homering in front of Dad. pic.twitter.com/XjGA8FfzWf
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 28, 2024
His eighth-inning home run widened the Dodgers’ lead to two runs, though they did lose that game in the ninth inning.
Roster status
Biggio is a free agent.