Blue Jays designate Biggio for assignment, call up Horwitz

The Toronto Blue Jays designated INF/OF Cavan Biggio for assignment on Friday and called up 1B/DH Spencer Horwitz from triple-A Buffalo.

June 7, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

The Toronto Blue Jays designated INF/OF Cavan Biggio for assignment on Friday and called up 1B/DH Spencer Horwitz from triple-A Buffalo.

The decision to DFA Biggio was a surprising move by the Blue Jays given his versatility.

The 29-year-old Biggio, who has played first base, second base, third base and in the outfield this season, was batting .200 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 44 games this season. He has also drawn 14 walks and owns a .323 on-base percentage (OBP).

Biggio, who is in his sixth season with the Blue Jays, did have minor league options left on his contract. But Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reported that with five years of service time, Biggio would’ve had to consent to a minor league assignment.

Selected in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB draft by the Blue Jays, Biggio hit .227 with a .343 OBP with 48 home runs and 32 stolen bases in 490 games with the club.

The Blue Jays will now have a week to trade him or attempt to pass him through waivers. Biggio is making $4.21 million in 2024. If a team were to claim him, they would have to pay him the rest of his 2024 salary.

Horwitz was promoted to boost the Blue Jays’ faltering offence. The 26-year-old put together a .335/.456/.514 slash line in 57 games in triple-A Buffalo this season. He had four home runs and 44 walks.

A 24th round pick of the Blue Jays in 2019, Horwitz made his big-league debut with the club last season, batting .256 with a .341 OBP in 15 games.

Horwitz did not play in the Blue Jays’ 2-1 loss to the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Friday.