The St. Louis Cardinals got off to a strong start this season but stumbled after being swept by the New York Mets over the weekend, causing them to slide in the NL Central standings.
They’re getting a boost with Masyn Winn returning from injury, but interestingly, they’ve chosen to keep Thomas Saggese on the active roster as well.
According to MLB.com’s John Denton, the decision to keep Saggese is based on his strong offensive showing during Winn’s absence and his ability to play multiple positions.
Saggese, 23, has hit safely in all nine of his starts this season, going 14-for-35 with four doubles, a homer, and seven RBIs.
Winn had a rough start to the season, going 0-for-20 over his first five games, but bounced back with a six-game hitting streak before back spasms sidelined him.
Saggese, who hit just .204 over 18 games last year, has been impressive in 2025. To make room for Winn’s return, the team optioned outfielder Michael Siani.
While Siani was a dependable center fielder last year with no errors, his defensive metrics have declined this season, and he’s batting just .222 for his career.
Saggese has shown he can handle second and third base since joining the team, which adds value, especially as the Cardinals eye roster changes around the trade deadline.
With a rebuild in motion — including letting Paul Goldschmidt leave and exploring trades for Nolan Arenado — Saggese could step into a larger role. If Arenado is moved, Saggese may take over as the starting third baseman, a spot his current offensive performance has made him a candidate for.
