ne of the few guarantees this far from the trade deadline is that the league-worst Chicago White Sox will be sellers. With a paltry 19 wins, Chicago is expected to field offers for some of its higher-end talent, including pitcher Erick Fedde, and the St. Louis Cardinals might be a perfect.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden proposed a trade in a story published Monday, June 17 that would send Fedde to St. Louis in exchange for minor league pitchers, lefty Cooper Hjerpe and right-hander Gordon Graceffo.
Of course, this depends on the Cardinals, in fact, buying at the trade deadline, which this no guarantee. St. Louis comes into play on June 17 with a .500 record, though they are on track for a Wild Card berth in a National League plagued by mediocrity after the top few teams.
Bowden wrote last week that he thinks the Cardinals should sell at the deadline, but said on Monday that they “seem committed to being buyers.” And as buyers, St. Louis could help itself this year and next. Fedde is under contract for 2025 as well at $7,500,000 — a bargain compared to the numbers he’s posted this year.
Erick Fedde Has Rejuvenated His Career
Make no mistake, Fedde could help any Major League team. The 31-year-old has revived his career after a season in South Korea where he won the KBO’s pitching triple crown.
Fedde had a career 5.41 ERA before the Nationals non-tendered him in 2022. From there, he moved to Arizona to spend time training with an instructor named Andrew Amato, at the recommendation of former teammate Sean Doolittle. As Tyler Kepner of The Athletic reported, Amato helped him lower his arm angle. Major Leaguer Logan Webb helped him with his changeup and Shelby Miller helped him with his sweeper.
“The belief [now is] that I can throw any pitch over the zone and there’s a good chance they’re probably not looking for it, because I have so many weapons,” Fedde told Kepner.
