Following a second consecutive year without a playoff appearance, John Mozeliak signaled that the St. Louis Cardinals were entering a “reset” phase. For the first time in a long while, the organization’s primary focus shifted from winning to developing younger talent. While this change may have been frustrating for fans, it was a logical move for the franchise.
As part of this reset, the Cardinals allowed veterans Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, and Paul Goldschmidt to leave via free agency. They also explored trading Nolan Arenado but were unsuccessful. That failed trade attempt stands out especially when considering Thomas Saggese—a former top prospect acquired from the Texas Rangers in the 2023 deal that sent Jordan Montgomery to Arlington.
Saggese appeared MLB-ready, but Arenado’s presence at third base left him without a clear path to the majors. As a result, he started the season in Triple-A Memphis. However, an injury to Nolan Gorman opened up a spot on the roster in early April, giving Saggese a chance to step in—and he’s made the most of it.
Through six games, the 23-year-old has tallied eight hits in 17 at-bats (.471 batting average) while playing three different infield positions. Though it’s a small sample size, Saggese has shown he belongs in the big leagues. Unfortunately, the missteps in Mozeliak’s reset may limit his opportunities moving forward.
Thomas Saggese deserves more playing time with Cardinals but won’t get it
Saggese got his opportunity in the majors because of Gorman’s injury, and he’s only still on the roster because Masyn Winn hit the IL just as Gorman returned. This gives Saggese a bit more time, but Winn’s injury isn’t considered serious. Once Winn is back, Saggese will likely be either sent back to Triple-A or pushed to the bench—neither of which he deserves.
When the Cardinals are healthy, the infield is locked in with Arenado, Winn, Brendan Donovan, and Willson Contreras holding down third through first. The designated hitter role is usually taken by Alec Burleson, leaving no clear path for additional at-bats. While Donovan can shift to the outfield, players like Lars Nootbaar, Victor Scott II, and Jordan Walker already have those spots covered. There just isn’t enough playing time to go around, which is exactly why Saggese was optioned earlier.
Mozeliak can’t be blamed for Arenado’s decision not to waive his no-trade clause, but his lack of other moves has created a serious infield logjam.
Saggese has shown he deserves consistent playing time on a team that claims to prioritize youth. Even Gorman has earned regular at-bats with his past performance. But once everyone’s healthy, both will be squeezed out of meaningful roles.
Cardinals fans can only hope Mozeliak finds a way to clear space for the team’s young talent soon. A player like Saggese, who’s proven he can hang at the MLB level, won’t benefit from being buried on the bench or stuck in Triple-A—but that’s exactly where he’s headed if things don’t change.
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