I Cardinals they are known to be looking for outside help, and preferably a right-handed bat given previous statements from president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. Free agent additions are still possible, though Derrick Goold of the St. Randal Grichukand the target Austin Hays chose the White Sox over the Cardinals in part because Chicago offered more playing time.
Rather than bringing in a new player, the Cards are also exploring internal options through the use Thomas Saggese again Jose Fermin as outfielders this spring. This is nothing new for Fermin, who has played six MLB games and 19 minor league games as an outfielder in addition to his big time playing second, third base and shortstop. For defender Saggese, he told Goold he hasn’t played outside since he was 10 years old.
Still, adding to his defense in a variety of ways should help Saggese in his bid for more playing time. Saggese has attracted top-100 attention ahead of his major league debut in 2024, though he hit just .250/.292/.336 in a small sample size of 347 Major League plate appearances. Sticking to the line can be difficult Masyn Winn at shortstop, the top prospect JJ Wetherholt on the verge of his MLB debut (probably at second base), and Nolan Gorman penciled in at the third position. It is possible that St. Louis is trying to mold Saggese into a right-handed version of the one he sells now. Brendan Donovanas a super-utility option that can bounce around the diamond.
More from around the NL Central…
- Justin Steele told Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times that her rehab has gone on for 30 sessions, and she plans to return Cubs rotation in May or June. Steele underwent UCL reconstruction surgery last April which included the placement of an internal brace on his elbow, and “when i started throwing again, it felt the same. There was no difference – and the first Tommy John I had [in 2017]it was like I had a new arm, I had to relearn how to use it.” It remains to be seen if Steele can quickly recapture his old form once he returns, but having an All-Star quarterback should give the Cubs a boost in their bid to return to the postseason.
- Before Luis Rengifo signed for one year, $3.5MM guarantee Friday, i Brewers and was interested in a free agent entry Ramon Uriasaccording to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Since Milwaukee apparently plans to use Rengifo as a third baseman, Rosenthal notes that the signing was “somewhat curious” from a glovework standpoint — Urias was an AL Gold Glove winner at third base in 2022, and his defensive metrics at both second and third base far exceed Rengifo’s numbers. The Brewers are the first team known to be interested in Urias since the Astros tendered him in November rather than pay an estimated $4.4MM in arbitration salary. Urias had a 108 wRC+ (from .262/.328/.408) over 1465 PA in interim action with the Orioles from 2020-24, but dropped to an 87 wRC+ and .241/.292/.292/.38411 PA with Houston in 2025.
