Cardinal's Veteran Likely Departing, Three Teams Emerge as Ideal Destinations
As the Major League Baseball trade season heats up, several teams are on the hunt for starting pitchers to bolster their rotations. One such player who has been identified as a potential trade candidate is Erick Fedde of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Despite a promising 2024 season, Fedde's performance this year has been poor, with a strikeout rate of 14.2% and a walk rate of 10.3%. His whiff rates have also taken a hit, with his sinker whiff% dropping from 20.2% to 10.2%. These stats have contributed to a K-BB% of 4%, second worst among all qualified starting pitchers.
The Cardinals, who see Fedde as the most likely candidate to be traded among their starting pitchers, are open to exploring trade possibilities. This is partly because Fedde is an impending free agent, unlike other starters on the roster such as Gray and Mikolas who have no-trade protection, or Andre Pallante and Matthew Liberatore who remain under team control for several years.
The Cardinals are prepared to listen to trade inquiries, reflecting their openness to sell if the team falls out of playoff contention or to do a bit of both in terms of buying and selling at the deadline. The primary potential trade suitors for Fedde are the San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros, who were identified as the best fits for Fedde if he were to be moved at the trade deadline in 2025.
The Padres may be intrigued by the possibility of acquiring Fedde for a flier, as the Cardinals are looking for ways to give Michael McGreevy consistent starts in the big leagues. The Padres, who have financial constraints and a weak farm system, could find Fedde an attractive option to help eat innings in their rotation.
Another team that could be interested in acquiring Fedde is the Los Angeles Angels, who are currently one game under .500 and 2.5 games behind a Wild Card spot. With a weak farm system, the Angels will likely be forced to look for players to acquire on the cheap.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers, despite their strong season, are in need of help in the back end of their rotation due to their starting pitchers throwing the 8th-fewest innings in baseball. Alex Cobb, signed by the Tigers in the offseason, has been on the 60-day IL since the start of the season and has only thrown a total of 6.1 innings on 3 rehab starts. The Tigers have utilized an opener strategy, which may slightly skew their innings thrown statistic, but they still have a need for more innings to save their bullpen's mileage down the stretch.
The Dodgers, Mets, and Red Sox are among other teams in need of starting pitchers, but it remains to be seen if they will make a move for Fedde. The next few weeks will significantly impact teams' outlooks for the deadline and the rest of the season, as they jockey for position and make moves to improve their rosters.
[1] Source: MLB Trade Rumors [2] Source: The Athletic [3] Source: FanGraphs [4] Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Erick Fedde, with his struggling performance this season, might find a new home in a team seeking reinforcements for their MLB rotation. The Detroit Tigers, having difficulties in the back end of their rotation, could consider acquiring Fedde to address their need for more innings. On the other hand, the Los Angeles Angels, currently in a tight Wild Card race, might turn to budget-friendly options like Fedde to fuel their drive for a playoff spot.
