Alterations to Thomas Saggese's output should not disrupt the Cardinals' strategic plans
A Fresh Perspective:
It ain't too far-fetched to imagine the St. Louis Cardinals wanting a stumble from Thomas Saggese during his time on the active roster, with Nolan Gorman and Masyn Winn on the 10-day injured list. A bit of Saggese floundering would've made it easy for the Cardinals to ship him back to Triple-A Memphis, with no complaints from fans.
But tough luck for the Cardinals, Saggese has been on fire during his brief stint with the majors, batting .394 in 33 at-bats, and boasting an impressive OPS of .958. Four of his 13 hits have gone for extra bases, showing that his bat won't be cooling down anytime soon. His performance at the highest level clearly demands a spot on the team. However, a roster crunch within the organization means Winn's expected return on April 22 might spell the end of Saggese's current stint with the Cardinals.
The Cardinals' decision to demote Saggese might just be the smart move.
Saggese is likely headed to Memphis because the Cardinals want him to get regular playing time rather than being a bench player with the big league club. It's understandable why the Cardinals would prefer this approach, and their belief in Saggese's untapped potential at his age is likely a significant factor in their decision to send him packing to Triple-A.
Consider Luken Baker, who, at 28, probably won't find another level to his game, making extra plate appearances in the minors less advantageous.
The reasoning for keeping Baker with the Cardinals may also apply to center fielder Michael Siani. Siani offers strong defense, which is appealing to Cardinals manager Oli Marmol, especially as a late-game substitute. However, offensive producers are more valuable than defensive wizards, and the Cardinals haven't been producing enough offense lately to justify Siani's late-game defense.
So, with that said, why keep Siani over Saggese? The primary reason is Saggese's age and untapped potential, along with his position in the roster, where he finds himself neck-and-neck with Gorman, Donovan, and Winn. Gorman, despite showing improved plate discipline and contact rates, is still blocking Saggese from getting more playing time. The Cardinals might not want to trade Gorman and rely on Saggese as their key backup given his small sample size and lower ceiling.
There's reason to believe that Saggese's current success may be temporary: always an aggressive hitter, Saggese hasn't taken a walk with the major league club this season. As teams gather more data, they'll undoubtedly throw pitches out of the zone more often, waiting for Saggese to chase.
The Cardinals originally stated that 2025 would be a season for young players, but it seems that's only half the truth. One obstacle in their path to that goal is the presence of Nolan Arenado, who they failed to trade during the off-season and now prevents Saggese from getting frequent plate appearances. If the Cardinals find themselves struggling in the division by the trade deadline and Arenado is still performing at a semi-decent level, the team might revisit the market for him, moving closer to a true "youth movement" after the deadline.
This situation is unfair to Saggese, who's performed beyond expectations but may still be demoted regardless. It's worth questioning whether this will affect his mindset. Ideally, he'll take the move in stride, recognizing that there will be plenty of other opportunities in his future. But nobody should blame him if he feels upset by the decision. After all, success in most areas of employment usually brings rewards, not setbacks.
When Winn returns, Saggese is likely to be the odd man out. It'll hurt to see the Cardinals overlook his production, but this move might just be the best choice for Saggese and the Cardinals in the long run.
- As Saggese's age and untapped potential continue to fascinate the Cardinals, the likelihood of him returning to Triple-A Memphis increases, since regular playing time is crucial for his development.
- In contrast, a player like Luken Baker, who is older, might find fewer chances for improvement in the minors, making him less viable for promotion to the major league baseball (MLB) roster.
- Despite Saggese's impressive success in the majors, his small sample size and aggressive hitting style might lead teams to challenge him more, which could affect his current performance in 2025.
- With the Cardinals seemingly committed to a youth movement, the return of Masyn Winn could signal the end of Saggese's current stint in the MLB, despite his impressive performance at the highest level of sports, baseball.
