The Cardinals are struggling at 14-17, sitting fourth in the NL Central despite sweeping Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Reds. If they can’t right the ship soon, they’ll likely become sellers at the trade deadline.
Erick Fedde might be their most intriguing trade chip. The right-hander is 1-3 with a 4.68 ERA, but those numbers don’t tell the whole story. Outside of rough outings against Boston and Milwaukee, he’s been solid. Last season, Fedde posted a respectable 3.30 ERA across 31 starts between the Cardinals and White Sox, logging 177.1 innings.
The Yankees need rotation help, and they’re a logical landing spot for Fedde. Christopher Hennessy of Clutch Points thinks this deal makes sense for both sides.
“The Cardinals should be trading Fedde. The Yankees are going to need a pitcher. Even with the failed Nolan Arenado trade looming over these front offices, this deal should get done,” Hennessy wrote.
What makes this potential move interesting is how it fits St. Louis’s bigger picture. The Cardinals have been planning to reset their roster for 2025 rather than go all-in this season. Trading Fedde would clear a rotation spot for Michael McGreevy, their 2021 first-round pick who’s waiting in the wings.
If Fedde can string together some quality starts before July, he should bring back a solid prospect or two from a pitching-hungry Yankees team. That’s exactly the kind of move that helps the Cardinals’ retooling efforts while giving New York the rotation depth they need for a playoff push.
The trade deadline is still months away, but these are the connections worth watching as the season unfolds.
