Instead of bringing in a new player, the Cards also explore internal options using Thomas Saggese And 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 increased playing time at second, third and shortstop. For career infielder Saggese, he told Goold he hasn’t played in the outfield since he was 10.
Nevertheless, increasing his defensive versatility should help Saggese in his quest for more playing time. Saggese drew some attention from potential top-100 players prior to his big league debut in 2024, though he hit just .250/.292/.336 during the small sample size of 347 major league plate appearances. Staying in the infield can be difficult Masyn Winn at short stop, top prospect JJ Wetherholt on the verge of his MLB debut (likely at second base), and Nolan Gorman registered for third base. It could be that St. Louis is trying to mold Saggese into a right-handed version of the currently traded one. Brendan Donovanas a super utility option that can be bounced around the diamond.
More from all over NL Central…
- Justin Steele told Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times that his rehab work has progressed to 30 pitch bullpen sessions, and he plans to return to the Cubs rotation in May or June. Steele underwent UCL revision surgery last April that included the placement of an internal brace in his elbow, and “When I started throwing again, it felt the same. There was no difference – while I had the first Tommy John [in 2017]It felt like I had a new arm, I had to learn how to use it again.” It remains to be seen if Steele can immediately recapture his old form once he returns, but having a former All-Star back should give the Cubs a nice boost in their bid to return to the postseason.
- For Luis Rengifo was signed on Friday to a one-year, $3.5 million guarantee Brewers also had interest in free agent infielder Ramón Uriasaccording to Ken Rosenthal of athletics. With Milwaukee apparently planning to use Rengifo primarily as a third baseman, Rosenthal noted that the acquisition was “somewhat curious” from a glove perspective — Urias was the AL Gold Glove winner at third base in 2022, and his career defensive stats at both second and third base are much better than Rengifo’s. The Brewers are the first team known to have interest in Urias since the Astros non-tendered him in November in lieu of paying a projected $4.4 million arbitration salary. Urias had a 108 wRC+ (from a .262/.328/.408 slash line) over 1465 PA in part-time action with the Orioles from 2020-24, but he dropped to an 87 wRC+ and a .241/.292/.384 slash in 391 PA with Baltimore and Houston in 2025.
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