Erick Fedde returns to Chicago on Thursday when the Cardinals face the White Sox in Game 1 of their doubleheader. The 32-year-old right-hander from Las Vegas will be pitching against his former team for the first time since they traded him last July.
Fedde was actually one of the few bright spots during the White Sox’s historically bad 2024 season. He went 7-4 with a 3.11 ERA across 21 starts, which made the July 29 trade that much more painful for Chicago fans.
The White Sox dealt Fedde to St. Louis as part of a three-team trade with the Dodgers, even though he was just in the first year of a two-year, $15 million deal. In return, Chicago got Miguel Vargas, Alexander Albertys, Jeral Perez, and a player to be named later.
Here’s the thing about that trade – it’s looking pretty good for the White Sox right now.
Vargas has been the standout player for Will Venable’s squad this season. The White Sox are struggling at 23-50 and riding a six-game losing streak, but Vargas leads the team in most offensive categories. We’re talking home runs, RBI, hits, and total bases.
The 25-year-old Cuban has been their most reliable hitter, appearing in 70 of 73 games with 287 plate appearances – that’s 29 more than Luis Robert. Vargas is hitting .242 while pacing the team with 10 home runs, 19 doubles, 36 runs scored, and 31 RBI.
As for Fedde, he’s had a rougher go of it in St. Louis. He’ll be making his 15th start of the season Thursday, carrying a 3-6 record and 3.65 ERA through 79 innings. He’s struck out 51 while walking 34, but hasn’t picked up a win since May 9 against Washington.
The White Sox won’t have much familiarity with their former teammate at the plate. Only two current players have faced Fedde before – Josh Rojas is 3-for-12 against him, while Mike Tauchman has gone 2-for-5.
Don’t be surprised if Fedde gets moved again before the 2025 trade deadline. That’s the word around the industry, and it would make sense given St. Louis’s current trajectory.
