Dodgers acquire Biggio in trade with Blue Jays

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired super-utility man Cavan Biggio in a trade with Toronto, adding the veteran after the Blue Jays designated him for assignment last week.

In the deal, the Blue Jays received right-handed reliever Braydon Fisher, who has split his time this season between Double-A and Triple-A.

Biggio was in the lineup for the Dodgers’ home game against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night, playing third base and batting ninth. He finished 1-for-3 and committed an error in the Dodgers’ 3-2 loss.

“To have a team like the Dodgers come and pick me up after my time in Toronto, where I spent so many years with so many relationships there, and playing against this team about a month and a half ago, obviously very special and very fortunate and grateful to be here,” he said.

The Dodgers optioned outfielder Miguel Vargas to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He hit .250 with three doubles, one home run and four RBIs in eight games.

Biggio, 29, was taken off the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster last week after struggling over the first third of the season, hitting .200/.323/.291 with two home runs in 131 plate appearances for Toronto, which at 33-34 occupies third place in the American League East.

“A lot of emotions that I sat and went through and processed,” he said. “I put myself in a good position to make my next step forward being here so I’m excited about it.”

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said: “I think it’s good for Cavan. I was pretty sure he’d land on his feet. It’s tough to have him leave.”

Biggio has spent most of his career at second base but has played first, third and right field as well this season. Biggio will join a Dodgers team that owns a 7½-game lead in the National League West but has gotten minimal offensive production from Chris Taylor, Gavin Lux and Kiké Hernández and is missing third baseman Max Muncy, who’s on the injured list with a strained oblique.

“I just want to be a good piece for this team and you know, hopefully be the last team standing at the end of the year,” Biggio said.

Biggio debuted in 2019 and was one of three sons of longtime major leaguers, along with infielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette, who was expected to serve as the core for an ascendant Blue Jays team. He hit 16 home runs in 100 games his rookie season and followed in the COVID-shortened 2020 year with a .375 on-base percentage, looking like a foundational element at second base.

Injuries limited Biggio in the years after, and he lost playing time this season to Davis Schneider and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. With the Blue Jays struggling offensively, they DFA’d him to make room for Spencer Horwitz, who has started all four games at second since his recall. Biggio has one season of club control beyond this year and will be eligible for free agency after 2025.

Biggio’s father, Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, had 3,060 hits in 20 seasons with the Houston Astros. The younger Biggio recalled one visit to Dodger Stadium with his dad.

“I don’t think I was allowed on the field, but I remember having a Dodger Dog or two,” he said. “The only thing I remember Shawn Green was on the team.”

In front of his father Wednesday night, the younger Biggio singled leading off the fifth for his first hit with the Dodgers.

He also showed his glove work early. He started a double play that got the first two outs of the first inning. He prevented a potential double down the line by Wyatt Langford in the second, making a long throw to first that Langford barely beat out. Biggio was charged with an error in the fifth when he bobbled a ball hit by Marcus Semien.

Fisher, 23, was a fourth-round pick in 2018 and has struck out 30 hitters and walked 15 in 19 innings while posting a 5.68 ERA this season. He has been with the Dodgers for five seasons, tossing a combined 228⅔ innings in 134 games (including 12 starts) and an 18-14 mark with a 4.53 ERA.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.