A day before the 2024 MLB Trade Deadline, the White Sox, Cardinals, and Dodgers made a three-team, seven-player trade. Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham are going to St. Louis, while Tommy Edman will join the Dodgers. Chicago, on the other hand, will get two high-upside prospects and Miguel Vargas.

The Cardinals’ Return

• SP Erick Fedde (3.11 ERA, 108 K over 121.2 IP)
• OF Tommy Pham (.266/.330/.380, five home runs, and 20 extra-base hits over 70 G)

The White Sox struck gold with Erick Fedde, a 2014 first-round pick who struggled in his first stint in the Majors, this season. Chicago signed Fedde after a dominant 2023 in Korea, a season that saw him win the 2023 KBO MVP. Fedde made tweaks to his workout regimen to better himself after shoulder problems and his arsenal, a change very evident in 2024.

Fedde was a heavy sinkerball pitcher who utilized a cutter and curveball, along with a seldom-used changeup. The 31-year-old was recommended to use his changeup more with the NC Dinos, a move that worked in spades overseas and he’s continued that in the Majors. Fedde’s changeup usage is up to 18.9%, up from 3.6% in 2022. But what’s set Fedde apart from his 2022 version is a nasty sweeper he worked on in Korea. It’s a low-80s pitch that’s virtually replaced his curveball, a pitch that’s given him a much-needed weapon against right-handed hitters.

Opposing batters hit .167/27.9% Whiff rate off the sweeper, a pitch with late downward break.

Command of his stuff and the strike zone has resulted in success for Fedde. The 32-year-old posted a 3.11 ERA with 108 strikeouts over 121.2 IP. He’s under contract through 2025.

The other piece headed to St. Louis is Tommy Pham. Pham re-joins the franchise he broke in the Majors with, as he played with the Cardinals from 2014-18. The 36-year-old continued to be a productive hitter in Chicago, hitting .266/.330/.380 with five home runs and 20 extra-base hits over 70 games. Pham has done what he normally does: hits fastballs (.311 AVG, .450 SLG) well and works counts. He joins an outfield that includes Brendan Donovan, Michael Siani, Alec Burleson, and Lars Nootbaar.

The Dodgers’ Return

• INF/OF Tommy Edman (Has not played in 2024)
• RP Michael Kopech (4.74 ERA, 59 K over 43.2 IP)

When healthy, Tommy Edman is one of the game’s more exciting players to watch. Edman is a former NL Gold Glove winner who can play the middle infield positions and outfield and has plus speed. The Stanford product swiped 89 bases from 2021-23, tied with Starling Marte for second-most in that span.

Edman is not a plus power hitter but has a great eye and doesn’t possess a long swing. It’s resulted in high contact rates throughout his career. The 29-year-old did not play in the Majors before the deal. However, Edman was on a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield before the deal.

Los Angeles also added reliever Michael Kopech in the deal. Kopech operated as the White Sox’s closer this season after Chicago moved to the bullpen. The move came amidst a spotty track record, thanks to below-average command.

Kopech’s stuff is electric. The 28-year-old owns a booming, plus-plus fastball to go along with a slider and newly-adopted cutter. His velocity is up over three MPH compared to 2023. And, Kopech owned a 30.6% Whiff% rate in 2024, up from 26.9% in 2023.

Edman and Kopech are under team control through the 2025 campaign.

The White Sox’s Return

• INF Miguel Vargas (.239/.313/.423, three HR and seven XBH over 30 G)
• INF Alexander Albertus (.298/.420/.409, three HR and 14 XBH over 51 G (ACL and A))
• INF Jeral Perez (.264/.380/.420, 10 HR and 25 XBH over 75 G (A))

Most notably headed to Chicago is Miguel Vargas, a former top prospect who’s yet to find solid footing at the MLB level. Vargas had success in the Minors: a 23-home run campaign in 2021, and a career .396 OBP. However, he’s hit just .201/.294/.364 with 11 home runs and 35 extra-base hits over 129 games.

Vargas’ power and eye are the two standout skills. The 24-year-old’s 22.3% Chase% rate is six points better than the league average. He does have a lengthy load, which could mean a low batting average, which has been the case throughout his brief MLB career. But best case scenario, he’s an infielder who hits 20-25 home runs with an above-average on-base percentage.

Defensively, Vargas saw time at first, second, third, and left field with the Dodgers.

The other two players going back to Chicago are A-ball prospects. Alexander Albertus, ranked 23rd in the Dodgers’ system per MLB.com, hasn’t hit for much power in his Minor League career (.112 ISO). However, he’s hit .303 as a Minor Leaguer with a.449 OBP. There’s also room for growth in his 6’1” frame.

Jeral Perez, ranked 17th-best in the Dodgers’ farm per MLB.com, has shown more polish at the A-ball level. Perez posted a .800 OPS with Rancho Cucamonga (A) before the trade.

Analysis

The Cardinals were reportedly unwilling to take on additional salary commitments this season. To illustrate that sentiment, the Cardinals just DFA’d Giovanny Gallegos, who struggled in 2024 but has been very good throughout his St. Louis, to save money before the deadline.

Fedde has a $7.5MM salary for 2025. But with Edman’s $9.5MM 2025 salary offloaded, the Cardinals were able to improve their rotation at the cost of a sparkplug.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, adds much-needed infield depth with Edman. The Dodgers currently have Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, Miguel Rojas, and Chris Taylor on the IL. And given Edman is signed through 2025, the Dodgers have one less hole to fill for next season.

It’ll be interesting to see how Edman fits in the Dodgers lineup. Shohei Ohtani‘s batted first in the Dodgers lineup since mid-June but Edman could be used in that slot, if needed. He did see time in the leadoff spot last season with the Cardinals. However, the Dodgers, an analytically-friendly team, could have Edman bat at the bottom of the lineup and leverage his speed to get in position to score for the top of the lineup.

As for the White Sox, Chicago continued their rebuild by adding two A-ball prospects and a high-potential infielder in Miguel Vargas. Vargas didn’t have much room for error in Los Angeles. However, that will likely change in Chicago