Hochman: Cardinals' trade for Erick Fedde is a smart one, with shades of 2022 moves (2024)

Two years ago, when the Cardinals did this, Erick Fedde was one of the worst pitchers in baseball.

In 2022, the Cardinals nabbed Jordan Montgomery and Jose Quintana at the trade deadline, while their fellow starter Fedde had an ERA in the “fives” … for the second consecutive year.

Well, after a season in Korea, Fedde has been unlocked as a major league pitcher. He was one of the best starters on the trade market. And now, he’s a St. Louis Cardinal.

The Cardinals could’ve tried to survive with their starting rotation as is. It wouldn’t have been ideal— and the fan base would’ve been mad— but they could’ve tried (and maybe succeeded and cracked the postseason). Instead, the Cardinals showed they are focused on making the playoffs … and making some hay in the playoffs. Fedde, right now, projects as the Cardinals’ No. 2 starting pitcher. With the White Sox, he was 7-4 with a 3.11 ERA, the 11th-best in the American League. He only walked 34 guys, while striking out 108.

And in this three-way trade with the White Sox and Dodgers, the Cardinals also answered another need— and did so with a familiar face. Tommy Pham, now 36, will bring his right-handed bat back to St. Louis. With the White Sox he had a .710 OPS and a 102 OPS+ (100 is league average). But those aren’t the stats to look at, per se. He’s a Cardinal again because they need a righty bat that can hit lefty pitching (since their future Hall of Fame righty hitters haven’t been reliable in long stretches). And in 2024, Pham has an .848 OPS with an eye-popping .377 on-base percentage. Granted it’s in only 61 plate appearances, but it’s something (and better than Dylan Carlson).

Yes, Tommy Edman is a good player who can play multiple positions. But he has yet to play in a game this season. Edman was expendable due to the incredible rise of his centerfield replacement. At spring training, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak accidentally called Michael Siani by the name “Sannese.” Well, Sannese has emerged as such an important piece that St. Louis could trade the fellow he replaced. Siani is one of the best defensive centerfielders in the National League. And he’s been hitting much better in recent months than his start.

As for Fedde, the acquisition of the righty also gives St. Louis a starter for 2025.

So what exactly did Fedde change? He vastly improved his sweeper. Per Baseball Savant, he seldom threw it in 2021 (5.47 overall ERA) and 2022 (5.81 overall ERA). But this season for Chicago, he’s thrown it 20% of the time. Opponents hit just .167 against the sweeper.

Fedde is this year’s "pitching Jurickson Profar." Fedde was drafted 18th overall in 2014 out of UNLV. He never became a star until this year, age 31. That’s Profar’s age. He was the top hitting prospect in baseball around 2012 and 2013. Finally, he’s blossomed. This year he’s hitting .301 with 18 homers.

Profar has helped keep the Padres in the wild card mix.

Fedde will, I believe, help push the Cardinals into a wild card spot.