The Houston Astros have been searching for utility depth. They just added an unexpected name.
The Astros have signed utility man Cavan Biggio to a minor league deal, with an invite to MLB spring training, according to a team press release.
Cavan is, of course, the son of Houston’s Hall-of-Fame second baseman Craig Biggio. In 20 major league seasons, Craig had 3,060 hits, 291 home runs and 414 stolen bases, cementing an elite legacy.
However, Cavan has not had nearly the same success as Craig.
Cavan was part of the highly-regarded trio of young players with major league fathers. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette have panned out, but Biggio has not found the same success.
What Does Biggio Bring to the Houston Astros?
The Toronto Blue Jays drafted the younger Biggio in the fifth-round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of the University of Notre Dame.
He would make his major league debut in 2019, where he would hit 16 home runs in 100 games, with a .793 OPS. During this season, he would finish fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
However, there were always glaring weaknesses in his game. His bat-to-ball skills were poor, which has resulted in a career .223 average. While he has elite plate discipline with a 13.5% career walk rate, it doesn’t make up for his contact skills.
Biggio has fallen off a cliff since the COVID-shortened 2020 season, struggling to stay healthy and consistent over the years.
Since 2021, he has eclipsed 100 games played just once. Since then, his average has hovered around the Mendoza line, and his OPS+ has not been over 100, meaning he has been below-average with the bat.
His defense has not been any better. According to Baseball Savant, Biggio has been a below-average fielder for the better part of his career. Now, entering his age-31 season, he must vie for a bench spot with Houston.
Where Does Biggio Fit on the Team?
It will be difficult for Biggio to find a place for regular playing time in Houston.
Carlos Correa, Jeremy Pena, Jose Altuve and Christian Walker are the unquestioned starters in the infield. This leaves Isaac Parades, an everyday-caliber player, fighting for at-bats.
Nick Allen, Brice Matthews and Shay Whitcomb could also be fighting for infield bench spots, leaving Biggio to fight for a fourth or fifth outfielder spot.
While second base has been Biggio’s main position (219 starts), much like his father, he has made 75 starts in right field in his career, making this a decent fit.
As of now, Cam Smith, Yordan Alvarez and Jake Meyers will man the three outfield spots, although Meyers has been included in trade rumors this offseason.
He would have to compete with Joey Loperfido and Zach Cole, both of whom are younger options with more upside.
If Biggio wants to make an impact on the Astros like his father and potentially revive his MLB career, he must work hard in camp to get a spot on the Astros’ roster first.
Can he do so? That remains to be seen.
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