Cavan Biggio acquired by Dodgers from Blue Jays

LOS ANGELES — A handful of seasons ago, Cavan Biggio, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette were a trio of second-generation players who looked poised to be a key part of a young Blue Jays core that was ready to compete for championships for a number of seasons.

At this point in his career, however, Biggio is just trying to rediscover himself as a Major Leaguer. After getting designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Friday, the Dodgers didn’t waste the opportunity to acquire the 29-year-old, coming to terms with Toronto on a deal that brought Biggio to Los Angeles in exchange for Minor League right-hander Braydon Fisher.

“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,” Biggio said. “Obviously very special and very fortunate and grateful to be here.”

As a rookie in 2019, Biggio began to make his mark, living up to his top prospect status by hitting 16 homers over 100 games. The following year, Biggio hit eight homers with an .807 OPS in 59 games in the pandemic-shortened campaign.

Since then, finding consistent offense has been a challenge for Biggio. This season, he has a .200 batting average and just two homers in 131 plate appearances. With a couple of mechanical tweaks, the Dodgers believe Biggio could get closer to being the offensive player he was early in his career.

“Our hitting guys dug in a little bit and felt that there’s some things that we can unlock with him offensively,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “But he controls the zone, can hit to all fields. But he’s had some success in the big leagues, so I think it’s kind of figuring out what worked for him, what hasn’t.”

Biggio, who batted ninth and started at third base on Wednesday, is expected to get starts against right-handed pitching. Initially, the Dodgers expected that Max Muncy wouldn’t miss much time with a right oblique strain, but the third baseman is not close to returning as he hasn’t recovered nearly as quickly as both sides hoped.

Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas will also continue getting playing time at third base, but mostly against left-handed pitching.

“I know the player that I can be,” Biggio said. “I know what I’m capable of, I know that I can reach it and I’m hoping to do so with the Dodgers.”

In place of Biggio, the Dodgers optioned outfielder Miguel Vargas, who showed well offensively in limited time. The Cuban outfielder went 5-for-20 with a homer, but the Dodgers want to get him consistent playing time with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

“You know, Vargy, I really do feel he’s a Major League ballplayer,” Roberts said. “I think that just to go out there and have the opportunity to play every day is important for his development.”