The Astros are taking a flyer on a familiar name with some intriguing upside, signing Cavan Biggio to a minor league deal that includes an invite to big league Spring Training. It’s a low-risk move, but one that could pay off if Biggio can rediscover even a sliver of the form he showed early in his career.
Biggio, who turns 31 in April, is no stranger to the big leagues. If he cracks the Astros’ roster, this would mark his eighth MLB season.
Drafted in the fifth round by the Blue Jays back in 2016, Biggio made a splash early on, especially during his 2019 and 2020 campaigns. In his first 159 games, he slashed .240/.368/.430 with a 118 wRC+ and 4.0 fWAR - numbers that had Toronto fans thinking he’d be a key piece of their next contending core.
At the time, he looked like the everyday second baseman of the future, joining a promising infield with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.
But while Guerrero and Bichette blossomed into stars, Biggio’s trajectory took a different turn. He gradually shifted into more of a utility role, and his bat never quite kept up. From 2021 on, he posted a .219/.327/.351 line with a 93 wRC+, and the Blue Jays ultimately cut ties with him in June 2024.
Since then, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. Biggio bounced around the league, getting brief looks with the Dodgers and Braves before landing a minor league deal with the Royals.
He struggled to get anything going at the plate, hitting just .184/.298/.286 (70 wRC+) with a concerning 29% strikeout rate since leaving Toronto. His stint with Kansas City was particularly rough - a 59 wRC+ in 37 games - and he was designated for assignment before the 2025 trade deadline.
He closed out the year in the Angels’ minor league system, where even in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, he managed just a .242/.375/.303 line.
So why are the Astros interested?
Despite the recent struggles, there are still a few things to like about Biggio’s game - especially in a bench role. For one, he’s always had a good eye at the plate.
His career walk rate sits at 13.5%, and even in down years, he’s never dipped below 10%. That kind of on-base ability is hard to find in a utility player, and it gives him a baseline value even when the bat isn’t clicking.
Case in point: he posted a .296 OBP with the Royals last year despite hitting well below .200.
Then there’s the versatility. Biggio has logged time at second base, first, third, and both corner outfield spots.
That kind of flexibility is a manager’s dream when rounding out a roster, especially one that could use more left-handed options. The Astros have been open about wanting to balance their lineup with more lefty bats, and trading Jesus Sanchez to Toronto thinned that group even further.
Still, Biggio’s path to the Opening Day roster is far from clear. The Astros’ infield is already stacked, with Carlos Correa, Jeremy Peña, Jose Altuve, and Christian Walker all locked into everyday roles.
Isaac Paredes - another quality bat - is already fighting for playing time. That leaves very little room for another infielder, especially one who hasn’t produced consistently in recent years.
Where Biggio might carve out a niche is in the outfield corners. That battle is still wide open, with Joey Loperfido and Zach Cole also in the mix. If Biggio can show enough with the bat and hold his own defensively in the outfield during Spring Training, he could sneak onto the roster as a left-handed bench bat who can move around the diamond.
And there’s a potential wildcard in all of this: trade talks. If the Astros do end up moving Paredes - as has been rumored - that could open up a spot on the bench.
In that scenario, Biggio’s on-base skills and positional versatility could make him a nice complement to Nick Allen. There’s also internal competition from guys like Brice Matthews and Shay Whitcomb, who are both in the mix for utility roles if another infielder is dealt.
At this point in his career, Biggio isn’t the breakout star he once appeared to be. But with a strong spring and a bit of roster movement, he could still find a way to contribute to a contending Astros team in 2026.