Royals sign Cavan Biggio to minor league contract

The Royals announced that utilityman Cavan Biggio signed a minor league contract. Although no mention was made in the team’s official announcement, it can be assumed that Biggio received an invitation to the spring big league training camp in Kansas City.

KC is Biggio’s fifth different organization in the last seven months. Biggio had spent his entire professional career with the Blue Jays until Toronto traded him to the Dodgers in June and Los Angeles released him two months later. The Giants then picked up Biggio on another minor contract in August, but he didn’t see any major league time with San Francisco before being traded to the Braves in August. Biggio appeared in four games for Atlanta and was then cut outright from the 40-man roster at the end of the season, with Biggio opting for free agency.

Despite all the moves, Biggio hit .197/.314/.303 in 224 total plate appearances with the Jays, Dodgers and Braves in 2024. Initially seen as a potential cornerstone piece for the Blue Jays when he posted strong numbers in 2019 – 20 seasons in, Biggio hasn’t been the same since his injury-plagued 2021 season, hitting just .216/.325/.349 on 1159 PA from opening day 2021.

The Blue Jays were short enough on left-handed hitters that they continued to look for ways to keep Biggio in the lineup at least in a platoon capacity, and he had a few bursts of effectiveness in 2023 before falling back to earth last season. While not an exceptional defender at any position, Biggio has played first base, second base, third base and both outfield corners during his career. At the plate, Biggio was able to issue walks fairly consistently, but this ability to reach base was undermined by a lack of power and a lack of hard contact.

If Biggio makes the Royals roster, he projects as a lefty complement Hunter Renfroe in the right field or maybe Maikel Garcia at third base, although Biggio’s third base glove work was well below average during his time at that position in Toronto. Biggio’s overall versatility could help him win a job on the KC roster, or he could act as minor league depth if he doesn’t opt ​​out of his contract to seek an opportunity on another new team.