Cardinals’ Hot Streak Raises Questions About Roster Plans
The Cardinals are suddenly back to .500 after a five-game winning streak, potentially complicating their trade deadline decisions. While St. Louis has shown signs of life, some key players continue to struggle – and one of the organization’s top prospects is knocking loudly on the door.
Thomas Saggese is making a compelling case for a promotion. The 23-year-old infield prospect is raking in Triple-A, hitting .341/.364/.512 with a home run, seven RBI and an .876 OPS. What’s becoming increasingly clear is that there’s little left for him to prove in the minors.
That’s where Nolan Arenado comes in. The veteran third baseman has been the subject of trade speculation, and moving him would create a natural opening for Saggese. As Zach Pressnell of FanSided points out:
“Right now, the Cardinals don’t have a spot in the lineup for one of their best prospects because Arenado is the everyday third baseman. Once the Cardinals can move him, they’ll free up a spot for infielder Thomas Saggese to see everyday innings.”
The Cardinals have options if they want to get Saggese into the lineup. They could slot him directly at third if Arenado is traded, or they could shift Nolan Gorman to third, put Saggese at second, and move Brendan Donovan to the outfield.
Both Gorman and Jordan Walker have been underperforming, and their runway might be getting shorter. Saggese brings power from the right side of the plate and defensive versatility as a utility infielder – exactly the kind of boost the Cardinals lineup could use right now.
The Cardinals’ recent success doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll abandon potential trade plans. But it does add an interesting wrinkle as they weigh their options heading into the summer. With Saggese waiting in the wings and some current players struggling, the roster could look quite different in the coming weeks.
