The St. Louis Cardinals get their veteran starter and outfielder for their playoff run, the Los Angeles Dodgers get their utility infielder and veteran reliever for their World Series championship run, and the Chicago White Sox get an infielder and valued prospects for the future.
Just like that, a rare three-way trade was consummated Monday with the Dodgers still trying to make more moves before MLB’s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline on Tuesday.
The Cardinals, who have been seeking another veteran starter for months, land White Sox No. 2 starter Erick Fedde and White Sox outfielder Tommy Pham, who was originally drafted by St. Louis in 2006.
The Dodgers get Cardinals utilityman Tommy Edman, who has not played yet this season because of offseason wrist surgery and a sprained ankle, along with struggling reliever Michael Kopech. And the White Sox receive Dodgers infielder Miguel Vargas and Dodger prospects Alexander Albertus and Jeral Perez.
What trade means for Cardinals, Dodgers, White Sox
The trade should provide an immediate impact for the Cardinals, who can slot Fedde into the middle of their rotation. Fedde (7-4, 3.11 ERA) has struck out 108 batters in 121 2/3 innings, and is under contract next season as well for $7.5 million. This is the fifth time Pham has been traded, and the third time Cardinals special assistant Chaim Bloom has acquired him. Bloom traded for Pham as the GM with the Red Sox in 2022 and as vice president of the Rays in 2018.
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The Dodgers badly needed another infielder with third baseman Max Muncy, shortstop Miguel Rojas and infielder Mookie Betts all on the injured list. Edman is currently rehabbing at Class AA and should be joining the Dodgers in mid-August. Kopech, a former starter, has struggled in the closer’s role with the White Sox, going 2-8 with a 4.74 ERA and 1.351 WHIP (walks and hits per inning), but he throws 100 mph and has 59 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings.
The White Sox, meanwhile, are shedding salary and looking for the future. They are 27-81 and on pace to finish with the worst record in baseball history. They received the Dodgers’ 16th- and 18th-best prospects, according to Baseball America.
The White Sox are still are shopping at least five players, including ace Garrett Crochet. They have had trade talks with 15 teams about Crochet, including the Dodgers and New York Yankees.
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