Cardinals' trade Erick Fedde to Braves after being DFA'd

The St. Louis Cardinals are set to sell at the trade deadline, and with less than a week until the deadline passes, there have been plenty of rumors. But the Cardinals' first trade of deadline week involved a player that wasn't expected.

St. Louis is trading Erick Fedde, a starting pitcher who was designated for assignment previously, to the Atlanta Braves, the Braves announced on Sunday afternoon.

The #Braves today acquired RHP Erick Fedde and cash considerations from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, Atlanta transferred RHP Grant Holmes to the 60-day injured list.

The move nets the Cardinals a player to be named later or cash considerations. After being acquired from the Chicago White Sox in 2024, Fedde was dealt once again at the deadline, this time heading to Atlanta to bolster their injured rotation.

This return for Fedde isn't much, as he was set to hit the open market anyway after the Cardinals designated him for assignment previously. What caused the Cardinals to cut ties with Fedde was a rough stretch spanning his last five games.

In his final five starts as a Cardinal, Fedde had a 13.25 ERA through 17.2 innings with 33 hits, 26 runs, and eight home runs allowed in five games. The 32-year-old right-hander struggled this season, even with a complete game shutout earlier in the year.

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In the year, Fedde had a 5.22 ERA, a 3-10 record, and struck out 63 batters to 47 walks. His struggles on the mound were too much as of late, and forced the Cardinals to move on from him just a year after landing him in a deadline deal with the White Sox.

St. Louis picks up something in return, which, compared to letting him go for nothing, is a nice plus for the Cardinals. While the specifics of the return, whether it's cash considerations or a player to be named later, aren't known, any return is a good return.

This move sparks what could be the beginning of a sell-off for the Cardinals. Phil Maton, Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, and potentially others could be dealt at the deadline this year. But Fedde is the first, and likely not the last, Cardinal to be dealt this year.

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