The Braves have acquired infielder Cavan Biggio from the Giants, as famous by Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Structure. Per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports activities Bay Space, the Giants are receiving money issues in return for Biggio’s providers. Biggio is on a minor league deal and as such was eligible to be traded regardless of the commerce deadline having handed. As he was acquired after the calendar flipped to September, Biggio is not going to be eligible to take part within the postseason with the Braves.
Biggio, 29, was a fifth-round decide by the Blue Jays again in 2016 who made his large league debut in 2019. As soon as seen as a part of a budding core of children in Toronto who have been the kids of former large leaguers, Biggio’s profession obtained off to a robust begin as he batted .234/.364/.429 (115 wRC+) in 100 video games throughout his rookie season. He was the membership’s common second baseman and earned fifth place in Rookie of the 12 months voting, ending forward of then-teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The nice occasions continued for Biggio throughout the shortened 2020 season, as he appeared in 59 of the membership’s 60 video games and posted a career-best 122 wRC+.
Sadly, that’s the final time Biggio has discovered success within the majors as an everyday participant. Biggio’s offense cratered over the following two years as he slashed simply .213/.320/.353 (91 wRC+) in a mixed 597 journeys to the plate. Whereas he drew walks at a formidable 12.6 p.c clip throughout that point, his strikeout fee crept as much as 27.3 p.c and the facility he had flashed throughout the first two seasons of his profession, when he mixed for twenty-four homers in simply 695 journeys to the plate, cratered as he slugged simply 13 between the 2021 and 2022 seasons mixed. Late within the 2022 season, Biggio even discovered himself optioned to the minor leagues as Santiago Espinal took over the on a regular basis second base job.
Issues rotated barely for Biggio final season, as he posted his first above-average offensive marketing campaign in a full season since his rookie 12 months. Though he was restricted to only 338 journeys to the plate as he served as a part-time participant for the membership, Biggio hit an honest .235/.340/.370 (102 wRC+) in 111 video games whereas splitting time between first base, second base, third base and proper discipline. Whereas Biggio discovered success in that utility position final 12 months, that didn’t final as he entered his age-29 season. In 44 video games with Toronto this 12 months, Biggio hit a paltry .200/.323/.291 as his strikeout fee soared to 32.1 p.c, going over 30 p.c for the primary time in his profession as an enormous leaguer.
The Blue Jays had evidently seen sufficient by the point early June rolled round and opted to designate him for project. He was traded to the Dodgers shortly thereafter however struggled together with his new membership as nicely, hitting an identical .192/.306/.329 in 88 journeys to the plate throughout 30 video games earlier than they launched him again in August. Biggio finally discovered his technique to the Giants on a minor league deal, although he didn’t seem on the large league degree with the membership earlier than Saturday’s swap and appeared in simply 12 video games for his or her Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento.
That’s led Biggio to his fourth group of the 2024 marketing campaign, the place he turns into the most recent participant who was launched earlier this 12 months to be introduced in as an harm alternative by the Braves. Atlanta has handled plenty of accidents this 12 months all all through their roster, and as such have gotten inventive by bringing within the castoffs of different groups equivalent to outfielder Ramon Laureano, reliever John Brebbia in addition to infielders Whit Merrifield and Gio Urshela. Now, Biggio is seemingly being introduced in because the harm alternative for an harm alternative. It was revealed earlier at present that Merrifield sustained a left foot fracture after fouling a ball off his foot final night time, and whereas the membership reportedly hopes that he’ll be capable of return to motion as quickly as subsequent weekend, accidents round their infield have left them to depend on questionable choices like Luke Williams and Eli White to deal with the keystone whereas he and Ozzie Albies are sidelined.
For all of Biggio’s struggles with the Blue Jays and Dodgers earlier this 12 months, even that lackluster manufacturing could be a considerable improve for both Williams or White on condition that the pair have profession wRC+ figures of 56 and 58 respectively within the large leagues. Whereas Biggio has struck out at a clip that isn’t befitting of an everyday position this 12 months, notably given his lack of energy, his penchant for drawing walks provides him a strong flooring of offensive manufacturing. He’s by no means walked lower than 11 p.c of the time in a season and sports activities a 13.6 p.c stroll fee for his profession, good for thirteenth finest within the majors because the begin of his profession.
Although Biggio gained’t be capable of take part within the postseason with Atlanta, it appears as if each Merrfield and Albies are anticipated to return earlier than then, that means there’s little draw back to giving Biggio a little bit of runway down the stretch whereas the membership’s most well-liked choices on the keystone are injured. In fact, as Biggio is at present on a minor league contract, he’ll must be added to the membership’s 40-man and energetic rosters earlier than he can play for the membership. Atlanta’s 40-man roster is full, so a corresponding transfer will likely be crucial if the membership decides so as to add Biggio to its roster.
