A method of managing data in a cache upon a cache write operation includes determining a number of non-contiguously written sectors on a track in the cache and comparing the number with a threshold number. If the number exceeds the threshold number, a full background stage operation is issued to fill the non-contiguously written sectors with unmodified data from a storage medium and the full track is then destaged. A corresponding system includes a cache manager module operating on the storage subsystem. Upon a determination that a cache write operation on a track has taken place, the cache manager module determines a number of non-contiguously written sectors on the track, compares the number with a predetermined threshold number, issues a background stage operation to fill the non-contiguously written sectors with unmodified data from a storage medium if the number exceeds the threshold number, and then destages the full track.