What do the Cardinals have in Thomas Saggese?

[ggnoobs]

I often forget about him as a piece of the 2026 puzzle. After reviewing some of his numbers, I think it would be foolish to move on yet. I think he should be given a chance this year to play every day. (But where?)

He has not really enjoyed success at the big league level yet - .628 OPS in 324 at bats. But that way too few at bats to make a determination yet.

I went back and looked at recent minor league number:

2024 - AAA - .752 OPS with 20 homers and 23 doubles in 126 games.
2023 - AA/AAA - .903 OPS with 34 doubles, 6 triples, and 26 homers and 111 Rbis

The 2023 numbers are very good obviously. Any OPS .900 or above is elite, and over 100 Rbis is great.

So I think there still potential he could be a ~.800 OPS major league player who pops 18-23 homers, plays decent defense and drives in runs pretty well. Somewhere in the 3-4 WAR range.

[zuck698]

I often forget about him as a piece of the 2026 puzzle. After reviewing some of his numbers, I think it would be foolish to move on yet. I think he should be given a chance this year to play every day. (But where?)

He has not really enjoyed success at the big league level yet - .628 OPS in 324 at bats. But that way too few at bats to make a determination yet.

I went back and looked at recent minor league number:

2024 - AAA - .752 OPS with 20 homers and 23 doubles in 126 games.
2023 - AA/AAA - .903 OPS with 34 doubles, 6 triples, and 26 homers and 111 Rbis

The 2023 numbers are very good obviously. Any OPS .900 or above is elite, and over 100 Rbis is great.

So I think there still potential he could be a ~.800 OPS major league player who pops 18-23 homers, plays decent defense and drives in runs pretty well. Somewhere in the 3-4 WAR range.

Cue Shady in 1,2,3

[Adam2]

I often forget about him as a piece of the 2026 puzzle. After reviewing some of his numbers, I think it would be foolish to move on yet. I think he should be given a chance this year to play every day. (But where?)

He has not really enjoyed success at the big league level yet - .628 OPS in 324 at bats. But that way too few at bats to make a determination yet.

I went back and looked at recent minor league number:

2024 - AAA - .752 OPS with 20 homers and 23 doubles in 126 games.
2023 - AA/AAA - .903 OPS with 34 doubles, 6 triples, and 26 homers and 111 Rbis

The 2023 numbers are very good obviously. Any OPS .900 or above is elite, and over 100 Rbis is great.

So I think there still potential he could be a ~.800 OPS major league player who pops 18-23 homers, plays decent defense and drives in runs pretty well. Somewhere in the 3-4 WAR range.

Cue Shady in 1,2,3

Ol Shadeboy is going to be salivating to get into this conversation

[Carp4Cy]

Another AAAA player. A JAG. May play a few games for a few years but not a needle mover.

Every franchise has players who have had a great year in the minors, but can’t put it together in the Majors.

[craviduce]

we don't have much in the way of RH bats. The Cards need him to do better.

Here's hoping.

[ggnoobs]

we don't have much in the way of RH bats. The Cards need him to do better.

Here's hoping.

I don't recall if he has played any OF. If his bat did mature, he could solve an immediate problem of Rh hitting in the OF.

[StlMike1969]

If Nootbar or Walker do not get their act together, Thomas will be getting his chance along with Church.

[CNYFan]

Utility player this year.

Good RH bat on occasion

[TraveledLessRoad]

I don't think anyone has given up on him. I think most people (me included) just see his name and think "meh." He reminds me of Matt Carpenter in that he looks like him and has kind of a surprising amount of power (at least he did in the minors)

[DewittDaman11]

I often forget about him as a piece of the 2026 puzzle. After reviewing some of his numbers, I think it would be foolish to move on yet. I think he should be given a chance this year to play every day. (But where?)

He has not really enjoyed success at the big league level yet - .628 OPS in 324 at bats. But that way too few at bats to make a determination yet.

I went back and looked at recent minor league number:

2024 - AAA - .752 OPS with 20 homers and 23 doubles in 126 games.
2023 - AA/AAA - .903 OPS with 34 doubles, 6 triples, and 26 homers and 111 Rbis

The 2023 numbers are very good obviously. Any OPS .900 or above is elite, and over 100 Rbis is great.

So I think there still potential he could be a ~.800 OPS major league player who pops 18-23 homers, plays decent defense and drives in runs pretty well. Somewhere in the 3-4 WAR range.

I'm a Saggese honk and think he just needs more opportunity. I believe he will be a good hitter, and play at least average defense, maybe at multiole positions. Sounds like Donovan, which would be great. But, I think Donovan may be a better defender, while Saggese has the potential to be a better hitter, overall. I think Saggese's ability to take the ball the other way, like Donovan, is a sign of future success. Definitely could be wrong, but I just have a hunch he has an idea of what he's trying to do at the plate, and starting to figure out what the pitchers are trying to do to him.

[Cranny]

I often forget about him as a piece of the 2026 puzzle. After reviewing some of his numbers, I think it would be foolish to move on yet. I think he should be given a chance this year to play every day. (But where?)

He has not really enjoyed success at the big league level yet - .628 OPS in 324 at bats. But that way too few at bats to make a determination yet.

I went back and looked at recent minor league number:

2024 - AAA - .752 OPS with 20 homers and 23 doubles in 126 games.
2023 - AA/AAA - .903 OPS with 34 doubles, 6 triples, and 26 homers and 111 Rbis

The 2023 numbers are very good obviously. Any OPS .900 or above is elite, and over 100 Rbis is great.

So I think there still potential he could be a ~.800 OPS major league player who pops 18-23 homers, plays decent defense and drives in runs pretty well. Somewhere in the 3-4 WAR range.

Totally agree.

[Cranny]

Utility player this year.

Good RH bat on occasion

So you said “meh” to Matt Carpenter?

[craviduce]

Utility player this year.

Good RH bat on occasion

So you said “meh” to Matt Carpenter?

you've mistaken him for someone else. You said when you're wrong, you would "apologize". You spent 5 pages of one thread making this point. So...apologize to CNYFan. He didn't say Saggese was "meh". And neither did the person who used the word "meh". They said his performance so far makes it so think "meh" when they see him in the lineup.

Anyways...do what you promised. Thanks

[TraveledLessRoad]

Utility player this year.

Good RH bat on occasion

So you said “meh” to Matt Carpenter?

No. That's not what i was saying. I was saying i see/hear Saggese's name and think "meh." But then I went on to say (as a separate point) that he reminds me of Carpenter in 2 ways: 1.) They look identical to each other and 2.) They both have/had surprising power for their build. It was not the most coherent post I've ever made...I'll give you that.

[bccardsfan]

He should get a reasonable amount of ABs this year and then we'll know. From what I have seen of his D, his arm is mediocre, really, 2B and LF are the only places you want him except the odd fill in. He doesn't have the arm for the left side of the IF. If he hits, maybe he can learn LF if JJW is pencilled in at 2B. If Donovan is traded there is clearly more PT for Saggese. If Donovan is kept and possibly signed longer-term, then things change.... Saggese should certainly get 400 ABs this year to see if he is a viable option for somewhere or as the super utility guy.

[craviduce]

He should get a reasonable amount of ABs this year and then we'll know. From what I have seen of his D, his arm is mediocre, really, 2B and LF are the only places you want him except the odd fill in. He doesn't have the arm for the left side of the IF. If he hits, maybe he can learn LF if JJW is pencilled in at 2B. If Donovan is traded there is clearly more PT for Saggese. If Donovan is kept and possibly signed longer-term, then things change.... Saggese should certainly get 400 ABs this year to see if he is a viable option for somewhere or as the super utility guy.

yeah...should get the AB's, so there's no excuses from either side of the aisle after this year. He seemed to make contact, or at least better contact late, late in the season last year...maybe, just maybe that's a stepping stone for him?