What do the Cardinals have in Thomas Saggese?

[3dender]

A much slower, worse fielding, non-switch hitting Tommy Edman.

[BrockFloodMaris]

A much slower, worse fielding, non-switch hitting Tommy Edman.

The Cards appear to have several AAAA players. Mo was great at acquiring and promoting them. Bloom will hopefully sort them out over the next year and jettison some/most/all.

[FrankTheTank]

He is a classic Cardinals triple-aaaa player...does pretty well in the minors, and is bench fodder in the majors. Yet, we will hold on to him until the bitter end, and he will leave and go hit .215 for the A's for a season and then retire.

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Heiti Cruz also lit up AA and AAA. Lots of MLB flunkies have lit up the minors.

[DewittDaman11]

I'll be honest, I've never seen a player have the quality minor league numbers Saggese has get so quickly written off by CT'ers. Is there something about Saggese that rubs people the wrong way, I don't get it. We've had many players with good MiLB numbers fail at the MLB level, but usually the pigeon-holing happens after at least 600 or so at bats, or more. Man, give the dude a chance. Then, and if, give him hell.
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[AZ_Cardsfan]

Saggesse won't be confused with the next shiny penny to get excited about. And probably never is an all star. But assuming the bat improves with experience at this level he can be a very good player who has some years as a starter at an IF position.

I know Rock already has decided he is a JAG. And he might be right, But I'd like to see what he does in 2026 before I write him off.

[Cranny]

He is a classic Cardinals triple-aaaa player...does pretty well in the minors, and is bench fodder in the majors. Yet, we will hold on to him until the bitter end, and he will leave and go hit .215 for the A's for a season and then retire.

Totally wrong. As you'll find out.

[Cranny]

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.

Sorry. I read you saying meh to both.

[WLTFE]

He is a classic Cardinals triple-aaaa player...does pretty well in the minors, and is bench fodder in the majors. Yet, we will hold on to him until the bitter end, and he will leave and go hit .215 for the A's for a season and then retire.

+100...a few front office (donkey) kissers hope he will be successful...hope is not a plan.

[Cranny]

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

Thanks for the correction and advice, moderator.

[ggnoobs]

A much slower, worse fielding, non-switch hitting Tommy Edman.

The Cards appear to have several AAAA players. Mo was great at acquiring and promoting them. Bloom will hopefully sort them out over the next year and jettison some/most/all.

You very wekk may be right about Saggese being a AAAA guy, but I'm not there yet after only 320 at bats. If in fact he sucks again this year, then by all means, boot him. I say if he shows improvement this year, stick with him a little longer.

[ICCFIM2]

I'll be honest, I've never seen a player have the quality minor league numbers Saggese has get so quickly written off by CT'ers. Is there something about Saggese that rubs people the wrong way, I don't get it. We've had many players with good MiLB numbers fail at the MLB level, but usually the pigeon-holing happens after at least 600 or so at bats, or more. Man, give the dude a chance. Then, and if, give him hell.
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I think a lot of people are having prospect failure fatigue on this board after watching 2 60 grade level prospects, Dylan Carlson and Jordan Walker wash out. 60 grade is as close as you can get as cannot miss.

I watched Saggese a lot last year. His power appears to have disappeared at the ML level, he strikes out a lot and he doesn't take walks. His minor league numbers suggest he has upside. He is not great defensively anywhere. He does appear to have the ability to hit for a decent average and hit doubles.

If we are going to give Saggese a chance in 2026, we should also give Fermin a chance in 2026. Similar skill set except Fermin is a bit faster runner who walks a bit more and almost never strikes out.

I see no reason in 2026 assuming Donovan is traded to not use an infield of Gorman, Saggese and Fermin playing 3B/DH, WinnSS, Wetherholdt 2B and Burleson at 1B. If more than 1 of Gorman, Saggese and Fermin perform, we can move Burleson back to the OF if necessary. Also, Winn seems to wear down. Giving Wetherholdt 15-20 games at SS to spell Winn and one of the 3 guys I mentioned at 3B 25-30 games at 2B to spell Wetherholdt gives around 190 games for Gorman, Saggese and Fermin to play, not counting DH games.

[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.

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?

yeah Duce... hopefully Oli will get the directive to play him enough that we can see. Still, he looks like he really can only play 2B or maybe LF. That arm is not good enough for the left side. Also, unless a miracle occurs, it looks like Gorman cannot play 3B. Hopefully he spent all winter with Oquendo, but what I saw last year tells me he would be lucky to be an avg defender at 3B at best. We seem to have a LOT of second basemen, and no third baseman defensively. Maybe Fermin, but he is unproven. We have lots of DH types too....Should be an interesting year!

[bccardsfan]

I'll be honest, I've never seen a player have the quality minor league numbers Saggese has get so quickly written off by CT'ers. Is there something about Saggese that rubs people the wrong way, I don't get it. We've had many players with good MiLB numbers fail at the MLB level, but usually the pigeon-holing happens after at least 600 or so at bats, or more. Man, give the dude a chance. Then, and if, give him hell.
,

I think a lot of people are having prospect failure fatigue on this board after watching 2 60 grade level prospects, Dylan Carlson and Jordan Walker wash out. 60 grade is as close as you can get as cannot miss.

I watched Saggese a lot last year. His power appears to have disappeared at the ML level, he strikes out a lot and he doesn't take walks. His minor league numbers suggest he has upside. He is not great defensively anywhere. He does appear to have the ability to hit for a decent average and hit doubles.

If we are going to give Saggese a chance in 2026, we should also give Fermin a chance in 2026. Similar skill set except Fermin is a bit faster runner who walks a bit more and almost never strikes out.

I see no reason in 2026 assuming Donovan is traded to not use an infield of Gorman, Saggese and Fermin playing 3B/DH, WinnSS, Wetherholdt 2B and Burleson at 1B. If more than 1 of Gorman, Saggese and Fermin perform, we can move Burleson back to the OF if necessary. Also, Winn seems to wear down. Giving Wetherholdt 15-20 games at SS to spell Winn and one of the 3 guys I mentioned at 3B 25-30 games at 2B to spell Wetherholdt gives around 190 games for Gorman, Saggese and Fermin to play, not counting DH games.

You are probably right, except I cringe whenever a ball is hit to Gorman at 3B.... sigh

[RamFan08NY]

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.

And, every franchise has players who take off in their 2nd, or 3rd year. Very unfair to lable him as a "JAG" at this point in his career, after a season with only about 250 ABs. He may not be Matt Carpenter, or Donovan, but still could be a very good bench/role player.

[ICCFIM2]

I'll be honest, I've never seen a player have the quality minor league numbers Saggese has get so quickly written off by CT'ers. Is there something about Saggese that rubs people the wrong way, I don't get it. We've had many players with good MiLB numbers fail at the MLB level, but usually the pigeon-holing happens after at least 600 or so at bats, or more. Man, give the dude a chance. Then, and if, give him hell.
,

I think a lot of people are having prospect failure fatigue on this board after watching 2 60 grade level prospects, Dylan Carlson and Jordan Walker wash out. 60 grade is as close as you can get as cannot miss.

I watched Saggese a lot last year. His power appears to have disappeared at the ML level, he strikes out a lot and he doesn't take walks. His minor league numbers suggest he has upside. He is not great defensively anywhere. He does appear to have the ability to hit for a decent average and hit doubles.

If we are going to give Saggese a chance in 2026, we should also give Fermin a chance in 2026. Similar skill set except Fermin is a bit faster runner who walks a bit more and almost never strikes out.

I see no reason in 2026 assuming Donovan is traded to not use an infield of Gorman, Saggese and Fermin playing 3B/DH, WinnSS, Wetherholdt 2B and Burleson at 1B. If more than 1 of Gorman, Saggese and Fermin perform, we can move Burleson back to the OF if necessary. Also, Winn seems to wear down. Giving Wetherholdt 15-20 games at SS to spell Winn and one of the 3 guys I mentioned at 3B 25-30 games at 2B to spell Wetherholdt gives around 190 games for Gorman, Saggese and Fermin to play, not counting DH games.

You are probably right, except I cringe whenever a ball is hit to Gorman at 3B.... sigh

He got better over there after a couple of weeks. We need to see what we have. If the group mentioned above is not good enough, you have to squint pretty hard at our system to see the next guy on the IF. Jesus Baez and Padillo are several years out and not sure things. To be honest, if this group of six worked out as a platoon group, i.e. Gorman can hit RH pitching and Fermin and Saggese were the other side of the platoon, that could be also OK too.