The St. Louis Cardinals traded eventual National League Championship Series MVP Tommy Edman at the 2024 trade deadline, and they have very little to show for it. In exchange, they received starting pitcher Erick Fedde and right-handed outfielder Tommy Pham. Unfortunately, Fedde underperformed and no longer fits into the organization’s plans, while Pham was released from the team within a month.
Cardinals Take Calculated Risk Trading Edman
At the trade deadline, the Cardinals had a record of 54-51, placing them one game behind a Wild Card spot. To improve their pitching and add a right-handed bat to their left-heavy outfield, the team decided to make some key moves. In a three-team deal, the Cardinals traded Edman to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for pitchers Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham from the Chicago White Sox.
After a hot start with the Cardinals, the team ended up releasing Pham about a month later. Fedde’s early season success with the White Sox never materialized for the Cardinals. In 21 games with the White Sox, Fedde had a 3.11 ERA, a 3.18 strikeout-to-walk rate, and a 7-4 record. In 10 games with the Cardinals, Fedde’s ERA went up to 3.72, his strikeout-to-walk rate fell to 2.56, and he had a 2-5 record.
For a second straight year, the Cardinals missed the playoffs. However, their mid-season success pushed the team to make win-now moves. A stark difference from how the team approached the 2023 deadline where they added prospects. It’s also a very different spot than where the team is now, focusing on player development.
Edman’s Success Since Leaving the Lou
In the Dodgers’ series against the New York Mets, Edman batted for a .407 average, collecting a hit in each of the six games, and drove in 11 runs. The RBI total for the series tied a club record for the stat in any playoff round. This included driving in the first four runs of the Dodgers’ series clinching 10-5 game six win.
After an offseason wrist surgery, Edman spent most of the season on the Injured List. Before he ever played a game for the Cardinals he was traded to the Dodgers. He spent five years with the Cardinals with a .265/.319/.408 slash line in that time. With the Dodgers, he slashed .237/.294/.417 in 37 games.
With runners in scoring position in 2024, Edman slashed .233/.324/.367 and 13 RBI. On the season, the Cardinals slashed .212/.297/.335 as a team with runners in scoring position. The metric was one of the Cardinals’ largest problems this season. Edman’s success with RISP could have helped the Cardinals down the stretch.
St. Louis Has Little to Show After the Trade
Beyond cutting Pham after a month, the Cardinals are in a predicament with Fedde. The team is expecting to cut payroll in 2025. Fedde is scheduled to get a $5 million raise in 2025 to bring his total salary to $7.5 million. He has the sixth-highest annual salary guaranteed to be on the books next season.
Fedde will also be 32 next season. The Cardinals are likely to give younger pitching prospects a chance in 2025, and Fedde is blocking them. In the final year of his deal, Fedde could be a trade candidate. A trade could help the Cardinals retool. Edman is 29 and a utility player with high upside and great defensive play. His presence and position flexibility could fit into a rebuild for the Cardinals, who don’t plan on being out of contention completely.
In an attempt to bolster their bullpen, the Cardinals also traded former first-round draft pick Dylan Carlson to the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Shawn Armstrong. Within a month of the trade, the Cardinals designated Armstrong for assignment.
Carlson struggled in 2024, but he was considered a highly regarded young talent as recently as Spring Training. The switch-hitting outfielder is just turning 26, and the Cardinals lack an abundance of talent in the outfield at the MLB level. Carlson could have played a significant role in a rebuild.
The 2024 trade deadline was somewhat disappointing for the Cardinals. Their situation could have looked more promising had they made a serious playoff run. However, as it stands, the Cardinals are now without two young players with considerable upside. Fedde might serve as a trade chip or be a valuable rotation piece for a team not expected to contend seriously in 2025.
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