The Blue Jays released Biagini from his minor-league contract Tuesday.
Biagini was cut loose after he submitted a 3.46 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 7.7 K-BB% across 39 innings with Triple-A Buffalo. The 32-year-old right-hander should be able to find work in another organization, but he may face an uphill battle to get another look in the majors in 2022.
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Blue Jays' Joe Biagini: Reassigned to minor-league camp
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Biagini was reassigned to minor-league spring training Thursday, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.
Biagini served as a non-roster invitee to begin camp, but he'll be sent down despite tossing 1.2 scoreless innings this spring. The right-hander has made just five major-league appearances across the last two seasons and should begin the season at Triple-A Buffalo.
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Blue Jays' Joe Biagini: Slated for relief work
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Biagini is slated to serve as a reliever in the Blue Jays' organization in 2022, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Biagini operated primarily in a starting role at Triple-A Iowa last year and logged a 5.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 91.2 innings across 22 appearances (19 starts). After landing a minor-league deal with Toronto on Thursday, he's in line to return to the bullpen to begin the 2022 campaign.
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Blue Jays' Joe Biagini: Back with Blue Jays
Rotowire
Biagini signed a minor-league deal with Toronto on Thursday, Jamie Campbell of Sportsnet reports.
Biagini made his big-league debut for Toronto back in 2016 and remained there until a trade to Houston in the middle of 2019. The 31-year-old has only thrown 7.1 major-league innings over the last two seasons, allowing 10 earned runs.
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Cubs' Joe Biagini: Returns to minors
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Biagini was returned to Triple-A Iowa on Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Biagini spent most of the 2021 campaign in the minors, but his contract was selected during the final weekend of the season. He made a relief appearance against the Cardinals during the season finale and allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two in three scoreless innings, but he'll be removed from the 40-man roster heading into the offseason.
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Cubs' Joe Biagini: Earns win in finale
Rotowire
Biagini (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings of relief to earn the win Sunday against the Cardinals. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two.
Biagini had his contract selected from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, and this was his first game in the majors this season, so he'll finish the year with a perfect 1-0 record and 0.00 ERA. The 31-year-old also posted a 5.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP across 91.2 innings for Iowa this season. Biagini figures to provide organizational depth for the Cubs or a different club in 2022, and he likely won't be on the fantasy radar.
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Cubs' Joe Biagini: Contract selected by Cubs
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Biagini's contract was selected from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Biagini joined the Cubs on a minor-league deal in February and has spent the entire 2021 campaign in Iowa. He recorded a 5.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 91.2 innings across 22 appearances (19 starts) and will be available out of the bullpen for the final two games of the regular season.
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Cubs' Joe Biagini: Lands MiLB deal with Cubs
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Biagini signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Dec. 17, Chris Hilburn-Trenkle of Baseball America reports.
Biagini will try his luck in a new organization after he elected free agency this offseason when Houston outrighted him off its 40-man roster. During the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Biagini missed time with a sore shoulder and wasn't effective when healthy, giving up 10 runs on 10 hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. Given that he has 221 MLB appearances on his resume, Biagini's minor-league deal will likely include an invitation to big-league spring training, so he should have the opportunity to compete for a spot in Chicago's Opening Day bullpen.
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Joe Biagini: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Biagini elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to the minors Friday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.
Biagini's tenure with the Astros was a disaster. Since joining the team at the trade deadline in 2019, he's posted a 10.42 ERA and 2.32 WHIP over 19 innings. As a 30-year-old with a 5.59 ERA over his last four seasons, he's unlikely to be a hot commodity as a free agent.
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Astros' Joe Biagini: Clears waivers
Rotowire
The Astros outrighted Biagini to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Biagini went unclaimed off waivers after the Astros designated him for assignment last week ahead of their wild-card series with the Twins. The right-handed reliever will have the option of declining the outright assignment, which would allow him to hit free agency before the postseason concludes.
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Astros' Joe Biagini: Loses 40-man spot
Rotowire
The Astros designated Biagini for assignment Tuesday.
The transaction clears a spot on the Astros' 40-man roster and postseason roster for outfielder Chas McCormick. Biagini was roughed up in his four appearances out of the Houston bullpen during the regular season, giving up 10 runs on 10 hits and four walks in 4.1 innings.
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Astros' Joe Biagini: Optioned off roster
Rotowire
Biagini was optioned to the Astros' alternate training site Friday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
Biagini has endured quite a rough time on the mound this season, allowed 10 runs in just 4.1 innings of work. Chris Devenski (arm) was activated from the injured list in a corresponding move.
Biagini (shoulder) was activated from the injured list Saturday and Brandon Bailey was optioned to the Astros' alternate training site in a corresponding move, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Biagini made just one appearance out of the bullpen before being sent to the injured list, allowing a run on two hits while striking out a batter in two-thirds of an inning. He is expected to be used in low-leverage situations upon his return to the bullpen.
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Astros' Joe Biagini: Out with sore shoulder
Rotowire
Biagini hit the injured list with shoulder soreness Tuesday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.
Biagini allowed a run on two hits while recording just two outs in his lone appearance of the season Sunday against Seattle. It's not yet clear when he's expected to return. Andre Scrubb was called up to take his place in the bullpen.
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Astros' Joe Biagini: Considered lock for 'pen
Rotowire
Biagini is expected to claim one of the bullpen spots to start the season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Biagini was on the bubble during spring training, but the expansion of rosters to 30 players creates space for the 30-year-old right-hander. Whether he survives the cuts when rosters shrink to 28 then 26 is uncertain. Houston has a few arms competing for the No. 5 starter, and the pitchers that don't claim that job could move to the bullpen, eventually pushing Biagini out of a spot.
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Astros' Joe Biagini: Not assured of roster spot
Rotowire
Biagini was still in the mix for one of the final two bullpen spots when spring training was halted, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Biagini is one of four candidates for two relief spots. After being acquired from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline in 2019, the right-hander was lit up for a 7.36 ERA, gave up six home runs in 14.2 innings, and was left off the playoff roster.
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Astros' Joe Biagini: Re-ups with Houston
Rotowire
Biagini signed a one-year contract with the Astros on Monday, avoiding arbitration, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Biagini posted a 4.59 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with a 60:26 K:BB over 64.2 innings in 2019. He's expected to slot in near the middle of Houston's bullpen heading into the 2020 campaign.
Biagini won't be on the Astros' ALDS roster, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Biagini recorded an unremarkable 4.59 ERA in 64.2 innings with the Blue Jays and Astros this season. He'll continue throwing throughout the ALDS and could be a factor in the ALCS, should Houston advance.
