BREAKING: This Is Sad, Cardinals Received Mind-Blowing News As Biggest Hope Now Dead

What initially seemed like an excellent trade for the Cardinals now appears much less favorable in retrospect.

The St. Louis Cardinals didn’t make the biggest splash at the trade deadline, but they certainly pulled off one of the most intriguing deals, largely because it involved three teams.

In collaboration with the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cardinals executed a seven-player trade. Here’s how the deal breaks down.

 

 

From the Cardinals’ side, they acquired Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham while sending Tommy Edman to the Dodgers. The inclusion of Edman was somewhat surprising, as he was a valuable utility player for St. Louis despite being injured. However, the Cardinals filled two major needs with the trade.

They secured starting pitching with Fedde and bolstered their lineup with Pham, who excels against left-handed pitching. Swapping only Edman for both players appeared to be a smart move.

Unfortunately, things haven’t gone as planned. Not only have the Cardinals struggled since the deadline, but the trade also hasn’t aged well for them.

Cardinals big trade deadline deal does not look good in hindsight

The Cardinals, sitting at 54-51 and just one game out of the third NL Wild Card spot, made a trade to address their two biggest needs, positioning themselves for a playoff push. However, after losing two straight to the Toronto Blue Jays, they now sit at 74-74, seven games behind the final Wild Card spot. While not mathematically eliminated, their chances are slim.

If the Cardinals’ decline was due to strong competition in the National League, it might be more understandable. But sitting below .500 after their trade, coupled with underwhelming performances from the acquired players, casts a negative light on the deal.

Fedde, the centerpiece of the trade, had a 3.11 ERA in 21 starts with the White Sox, but since joining the Cardinals, it has ballooned to 4.43 over eight starts and 42.2 innings. He has only completed six innings twice, with the Cardinals winning just two of his starts. His strikeout rate has decreased, while his walk and home run rates have increased—far from an ideal outcome.

Tommy Pham initially started strong in his return to St. Louis but managed just three hits in his last 39 at-bats before being designated for assignment (DFA’d). To make matters worse, Pham has been thriving with the Royals, hitting over .300 and leading off for a potential playoff team.

Adding insult to injury, Tommy Edman has been a key contributor for the Dodgers, hitting over .300 with a .818 OPS in 24 games, including a recent hot streak with four home runs in two games.

In summary, both Fedde and Pham struggled after joining the Cardinals, with Pham rebounding after being DFA’d and Edman excelling with the Dodgers. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have fallen out of postseason contention.

Although Fedde remains under contract for 2025 at a team-friendly $7.5 million, the Cardinals didn’t add Pham to release him a month later, nor did they expect Edman to shine for the Dodgers. For this trade to improve for St. Louis, Fedde will need to show significant progress next season.