The high-profile, three-team trade that sent switch-hitter Tommy Edman from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Los Angeles Dodgers could very well go down as one of Andrew Friedman’s finest moves. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak, who orchestrated the deal to bring right-handed starter Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham over from the White Sox. Despite the Cardinals’ efforts to justify the move, its results have only grown more unfavorable over time.
Heading into the postseason, few anticipated Edman would make such a significant impact for the Dodgers. Yet now, he’s a key reason why they’re just two wins away from claiming their eighth World Series title. Edman earned the NLCS MVP honors after an outstanding series against the Mets, hitting .407 with an impressive .630 slugging percentage.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals are preparing for an offseason rebuild after failing to make the playoffs.
Dodgers traded for Tommy Edman with hopes of pennant push
Many within the Cardinals organization have been quick to offer excuses for the Edman trade, with the most common defense being that Edman likely wouldn’t have found the same success in St. Louis as he has in Los Angeles. While this may be true, it misses the main issue: the trade’s impact on the postseason.
Since the Edman deal, circumstances have changed dramatically for the Cardinals. At the trade deadline, they were in the playoff race and hoped the deal would boost their chances for a wild-card spot. Back then, the trade seemed like it could be a “win-win” scenario, but the acquisitions of Fedde and Pham ultimately fell short.
Both players underperformed in St. Louis. Fedde’s ERA increased from 3.11 over 21 starts with the White Sox to 3.72 in his 10 starts with the Cardinals. Pham was designated for assignment once it was clear the team would miss the playoffs; he later found success in October with the Kansas City Royals, hitting .333 before they were eliminated by the Yankees in the Division Series.
Ultimately, the Cardinals gained a starter whose performance declined and a veteran outfielder they eventually let go. Now, let’s examine what they gave up.
At the time of the trade, Edman was still recovering from offseason wrist surgery and didn’t debut for the Dodgers until mid-August, by which point the Cardinals were already out of playoff contention. For the Cardinals, moving on from Edman offered no immediate payoff.
What the future holds
Looking ahead to next season, the trade appears even more questionable. The Cardinals gave up a versatile utility player and 2021 Gold Glove winner who demonstrated offensive potential during his 2019 rookie season, though he leveled off to league-average performance over the next three years.
While Edman’s return wouldn’t have significantly impacted the Cardinals this season, his recent performance with the Dodgers shows he still has the potential to be a valuable offensive asset. Plus, he remains under contract for another year.
Some argue that Edman was bound to leave the Cardinals after the 2025 season regardless. But had the Cardinals kept him, they could have commanded a stronger return on the trade market next year, particularly if he maintained his current level of play. The trade may have seemed reasonable at the time, but it lost its value as soon as the Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention.
This decision could impact the Cardinals’ looming rebuild. Hindsight is 20/20, but trading Edman for future assets this offseason or next year would have positioned them better for the long term.
Now, the Cardinals are left planning their rebuild without Edman, watching as he shines in the World Series with the Dodgers.
Leave a Reply