Cardinals land starter Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham, but trade Tommy Edman in 3-team deal
In a move to upgrade their current rotation and also address an opening for next season, the Cardinals utilized a complex three-team deal to address directly multiple needs they had ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline.
The Cardinals acquired starter Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham in a deal that involved the White Sox, Dodgers, and potentially nine different players when it's all completed. Sources told the Post-Dispatch about the deal Monday afternoon ahead of the team's announcing the finalized agreement a few hours before the Cardinals' game at Busch Stadium.
As part of the deal, the Cardinals are sending Gold Glove-winning utility fielder Tommy Edman and right-handed teen-ager Oliver Gonzalez to the Dodgers. Los Angeles is providing the prospects the White Sox sought in any deal. The Cardinals also receive cash in the trade to offset salaries and the potential for a player to be named later.
That last provision is not unusual because Edman is currently on the injured list and his return for this season is not yet scheduled.
"We went into our deadline approach where if we could find someone who could help our rotation, someone who could get a start in October should make it, is something that we were very interested in," said John Mozeliak, the Cardinals' president of baseball operations. "Erick Fedde met that. The complication was really then how to get him. We didn't want to have to do a prospect package."
Fedde will join the Cardinals at Wrigley Field on Thursday and he'll make his debut with a start against the Cubs during that four-game visit.
Pham is driving to Ƶ to report Tuesday and be added to the active roster.
The Cardinals will need to clear two spots on the active roster. To make room on the 40-player roster, the Cardinals designated catcher Nick Raposo for assignment.
Fedde, 31, is 7-4 with a 3.11 ERA in 21 starts for the Sox. In 121 2/3 innings this season, the right-hander has struck out more batters (108) than he's allowed hits (102) and he's walked 34.
Originally with the Washington Nationals, Fedde has a 4.92 ERA in 123 games (109 starts) in the majors, and he's already nearing a career-high for innings in a major-league season. In 2023, he signed to pitch in Korea and had a breakout performance, going 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA in 30 starts. He struck out 209 batters in 180 1/3 innings.
Upon returning from the KBO this past season, he signed a two-year deal with the White Sox that carries him through the 2025 season. He's owed $7.5 million for 2025, and the Cardinals will owe the remainder of his $7.5 million contract for this season.
At the end of 2025, if he's not signed to an extension, the Cardinals will have the option of presenting him with a qualifying offer and securing a compensatory draft pick if he signs elsewhere as a free agent.
Pham, 36, has hit .266 with a .380 slugging percentage and a .710 OPS in 70 games for the White Sox. The Cardinals have sought a right-handed bat to use against lefties, and this season Pham has slugged .471 with an .848 OPS in 61 plate appearances.
He visited the Cardinals in Jupiter, Florida, this past spring in hopes of signing with the team as a free agent, as first reported by Post-Dispatch columnist Ben Frederickson. Pham finished this past season in the World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he joked with a reporter about what he would seek in his next contract.
The Cardinals continue to explore trades with teams interested in Dylan Carlson or Giovanny Gallegos, according to sources.
The Cardinals had engaged the White Sox about Pham and reliever John Brebbia, both former Cardinals who would help address a current need.
Edman is less than a week into his return to a rehab assignment, and he was scheduled to play the field Tuesday for the first time since injuring his ankle. He has yet to play in the majors this season due to wrist surgery in October that was required to alleviate pain and address structural damage.
Edman cleared out his locker during a visit to Busch Stadium on Monday afternoon. He said he expected to play second base for Class AAA Memphis on Tuesday in Durham, North Carolina, but will instead head to the Dodgers to have them set his timetable for return.
"I've seen wild things happen over the trade deadline the last couple of years," Edman said. "It kind of comes out of nowhere to be honest. ... Leading up to this, I had no idea this was going to happen. It started to pick up last night. Came together pretty quickly. Definitely weird. Weird time. Extremely grateful for the time I've gotten to spend in the Ƶ Cardinals organization."
The Dodgers had interest in Edman, which allowed the Sox and Cardinals to pull them into the discussions to provide the prospects necessary to complete the deal for the Sox's benefit. LA sent third baseman Miguel Vargas, shortstop Alexander Albertus, and shortstop Jeral Perez to the Sox, and in addition to Edman received power right-hander Michael Kopech.
Tommy Edman, traded to Dodgers, 'extremely grateful' for time with Cardinals
Andre Pallante opens for Cardinals vs. Rangers ahead of deadline day: First Pitch
Change is in the air as the Cardinals begin a home series Monday against the defending World Series champion Rangers. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. Ƶ time.
Infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman went from the Cardinals to the Dodgers in the deal, and the Cardinals also sent minor-league pitcher Oliver Gonzalez to the Dodgers. The Cardinals will also receive a player to be named later from the Dodgers and cash considerations from the White Sox.
The Rangers' trade status seems to change by the series.
A July surge and a four-game sweep of the White Sox made them buyers, according to a report from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.
Then they suffered a three-game sweep at Toronto this weekend, .
On Sunday, Texas acquired ex-Cardinals catcher Carson Kelly from Detroit. Then Texas swapped pitchers with Kansas City on Monday.
As for Monday's game, right-hander Andre Pallante (4-4, 3.92) will take the mound for the Cardinals.
Pallante was a hard-luck loser in his last outing, allowing one run in six innings at Pittsburgh.
He's 4-3 with a 3.42 ERA since moving into the rotation in late May.
The Rangers will counter with right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (7-4, 3.31).
Eovaldi has been a significant part of trade speculation ahead of Tuesday's deadline, if the Rangers choose to sell.
Eovaldi sports a groundball rate that's top 10 among qualified starters, and batters are hitting . 183 off his fastball, his most-thrown pitch.
He's faced the Cardinals four times in his career, though not since 2014. He's 0-2 with a 3.42 ERA and his teams have lost three of those four games.
Prior to Monday's game, the Rangers made a flurry of roster moves, including adding former Cardinals catcher Carson Kelly to the active roster. The Rangers acquired Kelly from the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.
In order to make room on the active roster, the Rangers optioned another former Cardinald catcher, Andrew Knizner, to Triple-A Round Rock.
The Rangers also activated third baseman Josh Jung and left-handed pitcher Cody Bradford from the 60-day injured list, and they recalled infielder/outfielder Ezequiel Duran and right-handed pitcher Gerson Garabito from Triple-A. Infielders Justin Foscue and Jonathan Ornelas were also optioned to Triple-A. Infielder Davis Wendzel was designated for assignment.
Joe Buck returns to the Cardinals’ broadcast team and will call Monday's game alongside Chip Caray after a rainout scratched Buck's earlier return.
The Cardinals are 54-51, second in the NL Central and six games out of first. Ƶ is 6-9 in its last 14 games.
The Rangers are 51-55, third in the AL West. They've lost three straight after a 14-9 surge lifted them to the brink of .500.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Masyn Winn, SS
2. Alec Burleson, LF
3. Willson Contreras, C
4. Brendan Donovan, 2B
5. Nolan Arenado, 3B
6. Lars Nootbaar, RF
7. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
8. Matt Carpenter, DH
9. Michael Siani, CF
P: Andre Pallante, RHP
RANGERS
1. Josh Smith, 3B
2. Corey Seager, SS
3. Marcus Semien, 2B
4. Wyatt Langford, LF
5. Adolis Garcia, RF
6. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B
7. Ezequiel Duran, DH
8. Jonah Heim, C
9. Leody Taveras, CF
P: Nathan Eovaldi, RHP
Injury report
Riley O'Brien (flexor tendon):The right-hander is scheduled to throw an inning of relief for Memphis on Sunday and, barring any setbacks, will continue his rehab assignment on Wednesday. O’Brien’s workload on Wednesday could have him throw one-plus innings or be the first of back-to-back appearances, Marmol said. The Cardinals manager noted that, from a baseball decision point of view, he’d prefer O’Brien to throw in back-to-back outings to see how the right-hander responds to consecutive days of pitching in a game. Since beginning his rehab assignment on July 20, O’Brien has appeared in three games for Memphis and completed an inning apiece in each outing.Updated July 28
Steven Matz (lower back stiffness):Plans are for Matz, who simulated two innings of work in a bullpen session on Saturday, to begin a rehab assignment on Thursday, likely with Class AAA Memphis. The left-hander is scheduled to pitch two innings (or throw 40 pitches) in what would be his first game action since June 16, which was a rehab appearance with Class AA Springfield. Matz experienced discomfort in his back following the June 16 outing and had his rehab progress reset following a no-throw period.Updated July 28
In return, the Cardinals sent injured utility player Tommy Edman and minor league right-hander Oliver Gonzalez to the Dodgers, and the Dodgers sent prospects to Chicago.
In Fedde, the Cardinals acquire one of the helping the Redbirds shore up an area of concern as they make a playoff push.
Here are 5 things to know about the right-hander Fedde:
From big-time prospect to big-time struggles
Fedde was a major prospect early on, and the Nationals picked him 18th overall out of college at his hometown school UNLV in 2014.
He was coming off a torn ulnar collateral ligament, which dampened his draft prospects.
After some early struggles with injuries and effectiveness, Fedde settled in to become a roughly league-average starter in 2019 and 2020, then the struggles began.
In 2021 and 2022, Fedde’s composite ERA was 5.64 as he .
He was arbitration-eligible, but Washington declined to offer him a contract after 2022, ending his time there.
“He struggled, you know, and when I talk to him I talk to him about — he needs to create his own identity," Nationals manager , according to Federal Baseball. "Location is a big thing for him. Throwing the ball where he wants to. Got to develop his changeup a little bit better, but he’s got a live arm, and when he’s on he’s really good. But it’s consistency with him."
South Korean turnaround
A year in South Korea allowed Fedde to turn his career trajectory around.
After the Nationals non-tendered him in 2022, Fedde elected to take a one-year deal with the NC Dinos of South Korea.
There, Fedde was dominant. In 180 1/3 innings, he was 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA, earning regular-season .
He was the first foreigner to earn the there, leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts, showing off after being cut loose by Washington.
The learning experience was invaluable.
“Sometimes it’s hard to work on things in the big leagues. You’re trying to get outs, and that’s what really matters,” Fedde . “But (I went) over there and could throw my changeup 25 times and figure it out, and throw my sweeper 25 times and figure it out. And, you know, it’s tough when you maybe get through the minors and you haven’t done that enough.
“Now, I had a year to reset and figure it out.”
Back to the big leagues
As a result of his showing in South Korea, the White Sox signed Fedde to a two-year, $15 million deal.
He returned to the big leagues with a more confident approach, in addition to some mechanical changes.
“But the belief (now is) that I can throw any pitch over the zone and there’s a good chance they’re probably not looking for it, because I have so many weapons," Fedde told the . "And that leads to less walks, for sure.”
At 7-4 with a 3.11 ERA, Fedde has been the 20th-most-valuable starter in baseball this year by Fangraphs wins above replacement, just behind Sonny Gray and far ahead of any other Cardinals starter.
In 21 starts, Fedde has allowed three or fewer earned runs 16 times.
He'll go from playing in front of one of baseball's worst defenses to being backed by a far more competent group of fielders.
“Looking back a couple years ago, if you told me I was striking out close to double digits and going deep into games, I’d probably chuckle a little,” Fedde told . “But you know, (this is) what I’ve dreamed to do, and now it’s just, keep going.”
Scouting report
Fedde relies mostly on four pitches, leading with a cutter that he throws 30.9% of the time.
Batters are hitting .261 vs. that pitch, which sits at 90 miles per hour.
He throws his 93mph sinker 29.8% of the time, eliciting a .234 batting average against.
One of his best pitches and a key addition is the sweeper, which he throws 20.3% of the time. Batters are hitting just .167 against it. His 27.9% whiff rate against it is his best for any pitch.
He had only thrown a sweeper 29 times before this season, all in 2021 and to poor results.
Fedde throws the changeup, at 87.8mph, 18.9% of the time to the tune of a .226 batting average against.
The changeup is the only pitch that ranks poorly, according to .
Fedde's average exit velocity, hard-hit rate and walk rate are all above average.
Fedde fills a spot for next year
His acquisition likely lightens the winter shopping list.
The 31-year-old is under contract for one more season, so Fedde will be an integral part of the team's starting rotation plans in the offseason.
Sonny Gray remains under contract for two more seasons, Steven Matz and Miles Mikolas each have another year on their deals, and the Cardinals have team options on Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson for next season.
So far this year, the Cardinals rank 17th in baseball in Fangraphs wins above replacement for starting pitchers.
That's two spots better than last year, after which they made rotation upgrades an offseason focus.
Fedde, who ranks far better than any Cardinals starter except Gray, can only help lift the rotation.
Hochman: Cardinals' trade for Erick Fedde is a smart one, with shades of 2022 moves
Two years ago, when the Cardinals did this, Erick Fedde was one of the worst pitchers in baseball.
In 2022, the Cardinals nabbed Jordan Montgomery and Jose Quintana at the trade deadline, while their fellow starter Fedde had an ERA in the “fives” … for the second consecutive year.
Well, after a season in Korea, Fedde has been unlocked as a major league pitcher. He was one of the best starters on the trade market. And now, he’s a Ƶ Cardinal.
The Cardinals could’ve tried to survive with their starting rotation as is. It wouldn’t have been ideal— and the fan base would’ve been mad— but they could’ve tried (and maybe succeeded and cracked the postseason). Instead, the Cardinals showed they are focused on making the playoffs … and making some hay in the playoffs. Fedde, right now, projects as the Cardinals’ No. 2 starting pitcher. With the White Sox, he was 7-4 with a 3.11 ERA, the 11th-best in the American League. He only walked 34 guys, while striking out 108.
And in this three-way trade with the White Sox and Dodgers, the Cardinals also answered another need— and did so with a familiar face. Tommy Pham, now 36, will bring his right-handed bat back to Ƶ. With the White Sox he had a .710 OPS and a 102 OPS+ (100 is league average). But those aren’t the stats to look at, per se. He’s a Cardinal again because they need a righty bat that can hit lefty pitching (since their future Hall of Fame righty hitters haven’t been reliable in long stretches). And in 2024, Pham has an .848 OPS with an eye-popping .377 on-base percentage. Granted it’s in only 61 plate appearances, but it’s something (and better than Dylan Carlson).
Yes, Tommy Edman is a good player who can play multiple positions. But he has yet to play in a game this season. Edman was expendable due to the incredible rise of his centerfield replacement. At spring training, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak accidentally called Michael Siani by the name “Sannese.” Well, Sannese has emerged as such an important piece that Ƶ could trade the fellow he replaced. Siani is one of the best defensive centerfielders in the National League. And he’s been hitting much better in recent months than his start.
As for Fedde, the acquisition of the righty also gives Ƶ a starter for 2025.
So what exactly did Fedde change? He vastly improved his sweeper. Per Baseball Savant, he seldom threw it in 2021 (5.47 overall ERA) and 2022 (5.81 overall ERA). But this season for Chicago, he’s thrown it 20% of the time. Opponents hit just .167 against the sweeper.
Fedde is this year’s "pitching Jurickson Profar." Fedde was drafted 18th overall in 2014 out of UNLV. He never became a star until this year, age 31. That’s Profar’s age. He was the top hitting prospect in baseball around 2012 and 2013. Finally, he’s blossomed. This year he’s hitting .301 with 18 homers.
Profar has helped keep the Padres in the wild card mix.
Fedde will, I believe, help push the Cardinals into a wild card spot.
Joe Buck eager to give it another try at calling a Cardinals game Monday night: Media Views
Beginning next month, Joe Buck will be prevalent on the national airwaves weekly for the rest of the year as he serves as the play-by-play voice of ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.” But he has an earlier Monday night assignment.
It’s back to his sportscasting roots this Monday, when he’s set to return to the Cardinals’ broadcast team and be alongside Chip Caray to call the Birds’ home game against the Texas Rangers on Bally Sports Midwest. The pregame show begins at 6 p.m., 45 minutes before the first pitch is scheduled to be thrown.
It will be the second time BSM tries to pair the descendants of two of the most popular announcers in the illustrious history of the team’s broadcasters, Chip’s grandpa, Harry Caray, and Joe’s father, Jack Buck. The game in May against the Cubs that they were supposed to do together was rained out. This time, it will be a contest against the MLB team from the north Texas metroplex.
“Can’t wait to work with Joe, who I will have to remind it’s not the Dallas Cowboys,” Caray recently quipped on the air when talking about Monday’s telecast. “... We’re really excited about it. It will be a lot of fun.”
Buck, who broadcast his hometown Cardinals on radio and TV for about a decade and a half at the beginning of his career, relinquished his local duties after they had dwindled to just a handful of games in 2007 as his national career blossomed.
He became the play-by-play voice of MLB and NFL games on Fox as the centerpiece of his nearly 28 years there before moving to ESPN three football seasons ago. He gave up baseball broadcasting when he switched networks and hasn’t called an MLB game since the final contest of the 2021 World Series. So the game that was rained out would have rekindled his connection to the Cardinals as well as the sport that has been key in the family business. Thus, rescheduling the appearance was a priority.
“There was a desire on both sides to get it done,” Buck, 55, said. “It feels like unfinished business.”
It’s unfinished in more than one way. Not only did he have his scheduled BSM game limited to some banter with Caray on a night in which a pitch never was thrown, but he somewhat abruptly left Fox. He had intended to do one more baseball season, but after Troy Aikman jumped to “Monday Night Football,” Fox let Buck out of his contract a year early to join his longtime NFL broadcast partner on ESPN. So Buck really didn’t have closure to that mammoth anchor of his career.
Bally Sports Midwest executive producer Larry Mago was so intent on rescheduling Buck that he said he contacted him on the night of the rainout about doing so.
“He had a few open dates in his calendar,” Mago said.
Mago didn’t want to hesitate.
“Let’s get the first one,” he said.
Other than the aborted attempted appearance in May, Buck hasn’t had a broadcasting assignment since calling an NFL playoff game in January — although he has made occasional guest appearance on some shows and done public speaking. But his schedule picks up this week.
After his Cards broadcast on Monday, he’s set to call the NFL’s Hall of Fame game on Thursday night — Chicago vs. Houston in Canton, Ohio. It will be shown on ABC (KDNL, Channel 30 locally) as well as ESPN. So doing baseball on Monday will be a good slot for his return to the air.
“It made sense what with me doing a football game on Thursday,” he said. “Getting cranked back into the work mode is a good thing.”
The background
The postponed game was not called off until after a lengthy wait in which Caray and Buck were able to reminisce some about their family lineage. But a disappointment to many viewers who wanted to hear more was that BSM filled most of the delay with taped programming not related to the Cardinals. The upside now to that is that the announcers haven’t exhausted all their material, and neither has Bally with the pre-produced segments it had planned to show that night.
“There is a pretty good volume of stuff on Jack, Harry and flashbacks of Joe,” Mago said, adding that those elements will be used “in and out of commercial breaks,” things that “never got used. They’re all good to go.”
There might be less family talk than would have occurred in Buck’s originally scheduled appearance.
“It will be a little different because it’s not a Cubs game and it’s later in the season,” Mago said.
Both teams are in the playoff chase, plus the trade deadline is looming. That figures to lead to some deeper baseball talk than might have happened previously.
Contrasting styles
A lot has been made about Buck’s return, but he remembers a lesson he got long ago from his father:
“I’m sure Cardinals fans, or baseball fans in general, are tired of hearing about this,” Buck said of his appearance. “And this is the opposite of what my dad taught me, that nobody cares about the announcers. ... I just want to have fun with Chip, who was unbelievably welcoming before.”
Buck is eager to find out how he and Caray will bond calling the game, saying he has “no idea how this will go.”
“His style and mine are completely opposite,” Buck said. “He kind of blew my eardrums out” when they were talking to open the rained-out telecast. “He’s a lot louder than I am — I wish I had that volume. I just don’t have it after (a nerve ailment in his left vocal cord in) 2011. So it will be interesting to see how the two of us mesh. He’s amped up, too. He flung the door open to his booth, their booth, to me, my boys and my wife. He was very welcoming.”
Buck missed out on calling a game against the Cards’ biggest rival, the Cubs, but his rescheduled assignment pits the teams involved in one of the most memorable World Series contests ever, Game 6 in 2011 that went back and forth and ended on David Freese’s 11th-inning homer that Buck called on Fox.
“It’s still the greatest game I ever witnessed, let alone broadcast,” Buck said.
Because of that history for Buck, having his Cards return game to be against the Rangers — in the same stadium the epic contest unfolded — is “the next-best thing to Cardinals-Cubs,” he said.
Buck had one of his finest calls as the game ended that night. As the ball Freese hit sailed out of the yard, Buck simply enthusiastically said: “We will see you tomorrow night.” That paid homage the nearly identical way his father described Kirby Puckett’s game-ending homer, also in the 11th inning, almost 20 years to the day before that on national TV.
So it should be a nice fit in multiple ways for Buck to return to the Birds booth on Monday — weather permitting.
“I told all my friends not to wash their cars,” he quipped.
Rain is not in the forecast. But if the game would be postponed, Buck would be intent on rescheduling again.
“I want to do a game,” he said. “We’d laugh about it and find another date.”
Lindenwood’s Amsinger steps up
MLB Network studio host Greg Amsinger, who grew up in St. Charles and went to college at Lindenwood, is filling in for Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Ernie Johnson for the rest of the season and postseason on TNT’s studio coverage of Major League Baseball.
Johnson recently issued a statement thanking TNT management for “allowing me the time away to take care of a family matter during the baseball season.”
TNT has regular-season games on Tuesday nights, and Amsinger, who has a breezy approach, began there last week. He serves as the point man for commentary from former big leaguers Pedro Martinez, Jimmy Rollins and Curtis Granderson.
“I love to have fun talking baseball, and no group laughs harder than the ‘MLB on Tuesday’ studio team,” Amsinger, 45, said in a statement, calling it “a Tuesday night baseball party with Curtis, Jimmy and Pedro!”
While Johnson has an extensive baseball broadcasting background, he is best known for anchoring TNT’s raucous “Inside the NBA” show.
“I look forward to returning to the studio for the start of the NBA season,” Johnson said in the statement.
That show has been in limbo beyond the coming season, which now is shaping up as a lame-duck year as the NBA decided to divvy its next package up among other networks when the deals take effect for the 2025-26 season. But TNT parent company Warner Bros. Discovery had the contractual right to match a competing offer and did so with a bid from Amazon Prime Video that calls for it to stream regular-season games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. But the NBA rejected the TNT bid, leading WBD to file a lawsuit Friday challenging that decision.
Goold's chat: What 3 ways could Cardinals assert themselves as contenders? Is trade only 1?
Welcome to the frenzy.
It's the eve of Major League Baseball's trade deadline, and if we've learned anything over the years from the Cardinals chats at , there's likely to be news in the midst of the questions. The confluence of trade questions and trade reporting is going to make for a busy, frenetic, and hopefully enjoyable ... well, insightful ... chat.
I'll aim to cover it in real time here, pausing or popping out when necessary but returning to take this conversation up until the time reporting begins at the ballpark— if not beyond.
The trade deadline is 5 p.m. Ƶ time Tuesday.
Let's start with a summary of info, and some new details:
• The New York Yankees had a rep in Springfield, Missouri, this past weekend to evaluate Tommy Edman, according to multiple sources. Even after adding Jazz Chisholm Jr., the Yankees are still determining their interest in Edman and his health, the Post-Dispatch was told. There are concerns about when he'll be ready given the ankle injury setback and what can be expected from him.
Edman has yet to play the field as he recovers from wrist surgery and the ankle injury that continues to limit him some at game-speed. The Cardinals are open to exploring deals that would return a starting pitcher. One name brought up in the Cardinals talks with the Yankees was Nestor Cortes, a lefty and former All-Star with another year of control, though the Yankees may not be eager to deal from their depth unless they're . The framework of the deal is similar to what the Cardinals did in 2022 to send Harrison Bader (on the IL) to the Yankees for lefty Jordan Montgomery.
Edman is signed through 2025.
• The Cardinals are exploring the market for Edman, outfielder Dylan Carlson, and reliever Giovanny Gallegos, per sources.
Gallegos was designated for assignment on Sunday to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. If the Cardinals are unable to trade Gallegos before Tuesday's deadline, they are likely to release the veteran right-hander. Their preference to alleviate some salary before having to pay out the remainder of the $7 million owed him for this season ($6.5 million salary, $500,000 buyout of option). That payout would be minus the prorated minimum paid by any team that signs him.
They have received interest from teams on all three players.
• Edman has drawn interest during his rehab assignment from several teams. The Athletic identified the Los Angeles Dodgers as another interested team.
• As anyone would expect with few sellers and so many teams on the edge of the playoff bubble, prices are high. Buyers are likely to use the deadline to squeeze some of the prices lower because once Tuesday evening arrives and the deadline passes the return for the sellers is zero (or a comp pick, at best) on players with expiring contracts. One of the pitchers the Cardinals have explored who fits that rental definition (and is a lefty) is Toronto's Yusei Kukuchi.
• The Cardinals have explored deals for relievers to add to the bullpen and fortify it because of the weighty workload. Through the course of the chat there will be ongoing attempts to pin down, confirm more details.
I wonder if some of that might be fact-finding, too. If the Cardinals engage with teams looking to trade relievers, they can gather information on what they should ask in return— or even get a sense of what All-Star Ryan Helsley could command at a time when demand for relievers is high. They have, let's be clear, not shown an intent to be a seller at the deadline, but if their current approach is anything like their past practices they'll try to get that intel.
I'll add more as the day rolls on here.
We're still about 30 minutes away from the scheduled start to the weekly Cardinals chat ... oh, why wait? Let's get going early.
Bring the questions. I'll do my best to provide answers.
There will be pauses to do some reporting along the way.
A real-time transcript of the chat will be presented below the window, hopefully making it easier for you to read on the device of your choice. The questions will not be edited for spelling or grammar; they will be deleted for vulgarities, threats, or other inappropriate or impolite language.
The answers will do their best to keep up with your questions.
To borrow from Poe, into the maelstrom ...
Donald N: Good Morning Derrick; Juan Yepez and Lane Thomas seem like 2 RH bats Cardinals would love to have now. Lots written about lack of pitching in the pipeline but from your objective vantage, how have Cards fared in developing hitters? Plus the flame out of Dylan Carlson, still baffles me. Thanks for your expertise and hard work! Donald
Derrick Goold: Not great, Bob. To borrow a phrase. While the players who have gone elsewhere and shined get a lot of attention -- and should; Arozarena, Garcia, etc. -- one of the conversations we've been trying to have on the podcast is reframing that discussion around why the Cardinals haven't amplified the hitters they've kept. There are certainly examples of them doing: Donovan, Nootbaar, Burleson, and certainly the power component from Gorman. Winn is that list. And it's Winn who may join the group that, out of curiosity, I looked up yesterday.
Arbitrarily using Randy Arozarena's rookie season as the line, I looked up all of the seasons by a Cardinals hitter with a 3.6 WAR or greater since 2001.
There were 55.
I wanted to look at how many of those came from homegrown players in the past 25 seasons. As you can imagine, Albert Pujols dominated the field. He had 11 on his own. The others? Seventeen, led of course by Matt Carpenter (4), Yadier Molina (2), and Tommy Edman (2). So, you're talking about three players other than Pujols, two of whom are Gold Glove winners who excel defensively.
Since the end of 2011, when Pujols left for the California Angels of Anaheim in Orange County near Los Angeles, here are the WAR seasons greater than 6.0 by a homegrown Cardinal:
Yadier Molina 7.2, 2012
Matt Carpenter 6.6, 2013
Tommy Pham 6.2, 2017
Yadier Molina 6.2, 2013
Tommy Edman 6.2, 2022
For context, that's a high number as there were nine batters who had a WAR greater than 6.0 in 2023, per Baseball-Reference's calculations. But it puts in perspective where the Cardinals have gone for production and where they've lacked the sustained, certain impact in the past 5-8 years from their farm system.
bigron: In your opinion will the cards make a notable acquisition before the deadline?
DG: This much is clear: They're making an attempt. They had a sense of optimism yesterday on making progress toward at least one addition. And, it should not surprise any longtime fans of the team, that their conservative approach will be tested. At the trade deadline, it's rarely about getting the deal you want and who is willing to get past that to get the player you want.
JJ: Is Thomas Saggesse on the trade block? With JJ drafted and donovan/Gordon at 2nd? Does he play 3rd?
DG: They're not actively seeking offers for him, if that's what the trade block means. But they're not closed off to the conversation and withdrawing him or avoiding discussing him. They are motivated to get some return on last year's sell -- and would like the optics of that season to be the addition of multiple players who will help the team. Saggese, Wetherholt, these are both position players who they think can do that.
As to Saggese at third ... He's playing shortstop a lot now; third is a position they'll try him at, and have already. I don't think the plan is to have him be the third baseman. If they need that spot, Gorman would start at third, opening second.
Blake: Regarding the rotation for 2025: You have Lynn and Gibson with options for next year and Pallante not viewed by many as a long term solution. With 3 spots potentially up for grabs next year a rental feels like a waste of resources. What prospects currently in the system do the Cardinals believe can break the rotation next year? And who do they view as ideal external targets with at-least a year of control beyond 2024.
DG: You've outlined this well -- and hit on the question that brings them back to some of the names available now. What other names would they pursue for 2025? Going into the trade deadline it's one of the things that I heard described by several sources: That the Cardinals saw some moves to make now that would not only help them for 2024 but bring some clarity to them for 2025. Pallante has pitched well enough to force himself into that depth start and any discussion of the rotation's future. There's no surefire young starter that has chiseled his name into the 2025 rotation at this point. The Cardinals are, of course, open to Thompson, Graceffo, McGreevy doing so -- and they'll see when Hence, Hjerpe, Bedell, and Mathews are keen to force their way into the conversation. When you look at Fedde and Anderson, they are signed through 2025 with salaries the Cardinals could not get for that production on the open market. That's a big part of the appeal. The goal of a rental would be take advantage of the 11th-hour move when a price drops and the resources spent aren't that much. It would be a get-by, or lightning-capture deal. That seems to be, at the moment, how this is playing out, and not just for the Cardinals.
South City Steve: One of Mo’s favorite b-school buzz words is arbitrage. Why not look at moving Mikolas in this pitching-needy frenzy while simultaneously trading for an upgrade? You don’t need him next year and between Gray’s raise and the need for another top-end pitcher and likely another cornerstone player to replace Goldy, the team could use the payroll space too.
DG: They might, as outlined above, indeed need him in 2025. If the Cardinals do not figure out something with Goldschmidt for 2025 -- and maybe there will be a question that invites digging into that -- then you're look at Alec Burleson being the likely first baseman. The lineup would welcome another pillar to plant beside Nolan Arenado, but increasingly the Cardinals seem to be readying their roster for that to come from within. Pitching depth is always at a premium. Starters are always necessary. And getting a Mikolas-type on the open market would likely cost more than he's signed for. When you look at the scenario as you present it, it sure seems like a) there's a benefit to keeping Mikolas, not dealing him, even if there's "simultaneously an upgrade" and b) the Cardinals are going to have a hard time avoiding an increase in payroll. It's wired into their returning contracts.
Wally: With about a month left in the minor league seasons, I think it's fair to say this has been a really disappointing season for both Victor Scott II and Jordan Walker. Not just that neither stuck in the majors but it seems like neither has done all that much to inspire confidence at Triple A. How do the Cardinals view their 2024 seasons thus far and how are they aiming to get them back on track for 2025?
DG: Cardinals officials have not offered much about that when asked. The most common response as been "they continue to work." Part of that is being in the midst of the season with pressure to win, contend, win, contend, win in the majors, and the general shift in tone to being about the roster that's here, not the roster they imagined or wished would be here. Play with the players you have, not pine for the players who aren't around -- that sort of thing. That's pretty common. Still, there's no comment from the Cardinals that suggest they see either as a certainty for their 2025 outfield. Back in June, I believe, spoke to Oliver Marmol about Walker specifically and he said that when Walker "is ready" there is playing time for him in the majors. That guarantee was notable, I thought. It gave the sense that the Cardinals saw him as player working his way back to being the starter, not a prospect trying to get attention for an opportunity.
The similar paths these outfielders have taken for the Cardinals really should concern the club -- because they need impact from that position. They've tried a variety of approaches to get it. They've cleared playing time for preferred prospects to grow. They've tried to develop in the majors. They've returned outfielders to develop in the minors. And yet we all know the names of outfielders who have gone elsewhere to thrive, and now they're looking to trade another top prospect and former first-round pick who they don't have a spot for just years after they cleared a spot for him by trading a player (Harrison Bader, right?), who they cleared a spot for by trading a player (Lane Thomas) and on (Randy Arozarena) and on and on ...
John W: Mozeliak keeps saying he is looking to the future at this deadline, So why not try to talk Detroit into trading Tarik Skubal? Here is a great pitcher under control thru 2026. They have the prospects to make this happen if Mozeliak wasn't so gun shy! Either they really want to win or they dont! Which is it?
DG: Why not indeed? There's nothing to suggest that they haven't. There's nothing to prove your claim they have the prospect to do so. To date, the Tigers have shown zero interest in trading one of the best pitchers in the game at this deadline. The deadline would be a lot easier for the Cardinals if they could compel their wishes on other teams. But they cannot.
(Insert Obi Wan Kenobi GIF here.)
chico: Have the Cardinals seen enough of Lynn and Gibson to make a decision on upholding next years option,or not?
DG: Not really. They have time on their hands. Anything could happen in the remaining months to change or make their mind, and they're not really going to dive into that until they have to. That's the old Larry Pleau Principle in action, for long-time chatters. A lot of times, if you wait until the deadline for a decision, it will be obvious in ways you'll spin yourself through scenarios in the weeks leading up to it.
Ben: All the chatter on Twitter yesterday was that the club was not positioned tob take on significant additional salary in the coming years. Is this statement something that DeWitt. actually said? If so, we are doomed for mediocrity under his ownership?
DG: I did not see or hear a quote from Bill DeWitt Jr. on this subject. I saw a citation of an unnamed source. That's common this time of year and every news outlet as its policy for what is required to report something using an unnamed source.
Here's what I can add -- and we both know how this will go. I'm shouting into a gale instead of turning to surf it.
The Cardinals are in a spot where they can add payroll this season. Moving Gallegos alleviates some of the salary -- just in the same way every team in baseball would try to do the same with a contract like his, a market like this, and the bullpen depth they feel they have. It's a cost-cutting move that makes sense if they don't have a role for him. No surprise there once that decision has been made.
The Cardinals have the ability to take on salary for the close of this season (betting, as ownership has said on the record, that contending and compelling baseball will bring in ticket sales that the team needs/banks on). They would be open to adding cost-controlled deals for beyond this year (as mentioned above with Fedde as an example). But a deal like Snell is trickier. He has a $30 million player option for 2025, and that is sizeable addition for any team. So, we're back at the beginning of your question.
What does "significant" mean?
Man, context is so boring.
Real snoozer.
Cardinal Bob: In your opinion what do the Cards need to do to move from average to above average? Thank you
DG: Three steps:
1) Add a starting pitcher who upgrades the rotation, someone who is pitching well and you don't have to squint to see how they'd start one of the three games in a three-game playoff series.
2) Either add a right-handed reliever or consider the change in the rotation as a reason to move an arm into the bullpen and also crystallize Liberatore's role as a lefty; let him shine doing that.
3) Get enough production from here to the end of the season from Goldschmidt, Arenado, and Gorman so that they end the season with a 100 OPS+, that is league average. Currently, they are 88 OPS+, 97, and 92, respectively. What timing for the surge that brings them back to average, because consider that Willson Contreras is 155 OPS+ -- or 55% average.
Jackson: Thoughts on Robert Downey Jr. being cast as Dr. Doom?
DG: Intrigued. Enjoyed the theatrics of the reveal. We can see the outline of the plot already -- and that could be really compelling, for sure. The "What If ... Iron Man didn't have a heart and love us 3,000?" But I think it's a risk. Can they avoid putting cracks in all that he did before by weighing it down with some retrofit narrative now. Tremendous talent. Huge impact on starting the modern era of the MCU. They weren't the same without him. And now he's back with the ability to reinvigorate the fans.
Kinda sounds familiar, like Albert Pujols '22.
Jackson: If the Cardinals have to release Gallegos, are they on the hook for the 6.5 million Team Option for 2025? Or do they just have to cover his 500k buyout?
DG: They have to cover his buyout, and if he's signed they only cover the amount above the prorated minimum salary. His new team has to cover the portion of the minimum salary.
Helena: Derrick, Why so many empty seats? I understand 2023 empty seats. There are more 2024 empty seats than the product deserves, IMO.
DG: It's NOT just the baseball. There are a lot of reasons, and we could tumble into a long discussion about how costs are going up. Inflation. There are a lot of other things for people to do with their free time and their dollars, if they choose to spend those dollars at all. For example, people are choosing how to use their entertainment dollar in different ways -- or have less to spend on entertainment. Throw in the losing record of a year ago and the losing record to start this season. All of it comes in to play. The Cardinals have yet to capture the imagination of the fans for walk-up crowds in the way that, say, Paul Skenes does for his starts in Pittsburgh (and still that tickets-sold crowd was less than the Cardinals start with each game).
Lennie: Is it fair to say that we don't really have a spot for Saggese or Edman?
DG: It is not. One could be the starting CF.
The other the starting 2B.
Alex: If they can't land a 1-2 starter I don't see much of a playoff path, which means might be best to be sellers? But its a fine line between knowing if they can get that starter before the deadline
DG: And also knowing what other teams look like or are playing like on the brink of October. Not like many people had Arizona being the NL team to beat this time a year ago, and yet they very much deserved to be considered as such by the time October arrived. That's the thing right. Don't want to be the team that has that even has that flicker of potential -- and extinguish the possibility in July.
Lennie: Is Gorman available for the right deal?
DG: Sure. But that's not really news. His name has come up before, there's teams interested in him, and the Cardinals see a move there as dealing from depth. You used the phrase that is always going to get the affirmative answer: right deal. They'll talk about anyone for the right deal, as long they're defining what that is.
Mark: Regarding the attendance question, couldn't it well be that fans don't have championship expectations anymore.
DG: Yes, and also you know the entertainment dollar stuff. The reasons contain multitudes, and if we poll the 40,000 people who purchase tickets and 40,000 who don't we could get 80,000 varying degrees of answers, on the low side.
But the general theme will be the success on the field, the aura of the team -- to quote the team -- and the cost at a time when people, perhaps even you, are highly aware of how much they're spending on entertainment when costs elsewhere have also gone up.
Jackson: Tommy Edman has a career .803 OPS against left handed pitchers. For a team in need of a right handed outfielder to help against lefties, is he not the perfect fit?
DG: Sure would seem so, yes.
At least he'd be a boost.
JohnB.: What does Ivan Herrera need to do to get back on the major league roster? Crushing the ball at AAA doesn't appear to be enough. Does he need to show that he can control the running game at catcher, or is his best option to learn another position?
DG: Improve at several of the requirements of his position, at catcher, or be considered by the Cardinals to be advancing at the DH spot or another position. That would have to happen as well as have someone create an opening for him to make that move up to the majors -- that could be injury, trade, or ineffectiveness. The latter of which is not happening at all at the moment. Improving at catcher includes controlling the running game and improving his arm strength. That is one of the things he's doing at Class AAA is going through an arm-strengthening program. His bat is definitely a plus at catcher, well above average, so keeping him at catcher makes sense as long as that's possible, and he shows the ability to make that possible. His bat at DH, not the same, relative to position.
Kevin in DC: We could not throw anyone out all weekend. Every single was a double. What is the issue?
DG: Washington has the second-most steals in the majors, so they're going to go go go go go against anybody, and the Cardinals had some lapses in holding runners on or limiting their jumps when they knew it was coming from the Nationals. Some of those steals were going to happen with even the best vigilance. A few could have been avoided -- like the one of third Sunday with the runaway lead.
Mark: I live near Buffalo, and fans will mortgage their left arm for tickets, as long as their contending...
DG: For 1/10th the amount of games. Not exactly comparing flats to drums.
Taylor: I saw a report indicating the White Sox asked for Jordan Walker for Fedde. Would the Cardinals consider moving Walker for a mid (if you beleive he is truly changed pitcher going forward) to back of the rotation arm like that?
DG: Did that pass your sniff test? I am highly skeptical. Aren't the Cardinals criticized roundly for being uber-protective of their prized prospects? And here is a conversation of trading one of the top prospects in the minors for 8 months of a starter who 12 months ago was reinventing himself in the KBO. I don't blame the White Sox for asking. That's the job. Ask for the moon. Ask for a star. Fine. But eventually come back to gravity.
lizkingwt: 1) Does Mozeliak remain committed to stepping away from baseball operations after the 2025 season? 2) Is there a sense of to what degree ownership influences baseball operations and the decisions they make? When I ask that second question, I am not thinking about it simply in terms of budget; I'm thinking more so in terms of philosophy. It's safe to say that baseball operations under Mozeliak is a conservative decision-making outfit. Is that directed by ownership, influenced by ownership, chosen by ownership, etc.. I reckon I'm trying to get of sense of how much difference in thought and action we could expect to be acceptable via a new POBO under ownership.
DG: 1) He has not changed his stance from previous comments. I haven't checked with him monthly on this because his comments haven't changed, and he's repeated some of them to different audiences in that time.
2) Absolutely. This has been a hallmark of DeWitt's ownership for more than two decades, and it was the case regardless of who was leading baseball operations. Bill DeWitt Jr. was heavily involved in baseball decisions. You want anecdotal? Consider the evening when they traded for Matt Holliday and DeWitt told me was at his home with laptops open and going over and over and over the scouting reports and internal info on the prospects they were giving up, and whether that was going to be the right move. The Cardinals' pivot toward analytics -- driven by him. Ownership is, as you'd expect, heavily involved in guiding the team and its decisions. Plus, DeWitt has always acknowledged taking a real interest in the minors, prospects, and young players, and that is reflected in some of the things he'd like the Cardinals to be (and they have been, but now need to do better).
Ed AuBuchon: Has Mo talked to Seattle? They have at least 5 starters that are talented and controllable.
DG: The Cardinals should have talked to all 29 other teams at this point, or they're not keeping up with the other 29 teams. Specifically to Seattle -- the Cardinals had talks with the Mariners about starters before, going back before this season, and there was some thought they could line up for a move. You might recall the Post-Dispatch's report on their interest in Logan Gilbert. Interest didn't manifest in momentum. Hard to see where the two teams are generating that either. But, yes, teams all talk.
Give me one second here. Thanks for the patience.
Going to need more than a second. There's info coming.
OK. Well, that took some time -- and many interviews and multiple stories. And we're back. Let's dive in to a few of the questions here late Monday.
Steve O: what is the Cardinals record in extra innings. They don't seem to be as motivated as the other teams.
DG: The Cardinals are 5-8 in extra innings. I don't agree with your assessment on motivation or even how you would measure that other than with the win-loss record and I have hard time believing that a loss is reflective of a lack of motivation. The other team wants to win, too.
Skip W-G: On your August 2022 BPIB episode with Cardinals GM Michael Girsch, you discussed weighing the cost to acquire talent via trade versus the cost to acquire it via free agency - Girsch called it a “difficult balance” but also correctly noted “that’s the job”. 2022 Quintana was the example used on that episode - he signed for $2M with the Pirates, but ended up costing 6 years of Oviedo to acquire at the deadline. Critically, both Fedde (and Pham) were *extremely* available at affordable rates via FA this past offseason, but the FO’s focus to make good on the Matz signing as an SP got in the way of adding talent like Fedde. So yes, the cost of Pham and Fedde was fairly affordable in terms of talent (1.5 years of Edman and a low level prospect) - but it could have only cost money if the FO hadn’t been focused on seeing their Matz investment hit. In the 2022 BPIB episode, Girsch acknowledged the tradeoff isn’t ideal, but viewed it as the way of doing business. Do you think the “certainty” gained from the timing of the trade deadline is worth the costs of both talent AND money teams pay to get it?
DG: It's a fair point, but keep in mind the costs are more than you outlined. Both Fedde and Pham would have "cost" a roster spot -- and also the Cardinals did not really have the offer that Fedde wanted at the time. They had just signed three starters and had two under contract, so Fedde wanted as chance to start, not a chance to be a sixth starter, as he would have been with the Cardinals' roster set up after signing Gray, Gibson, and Lynn and committing to all three as starter. Pham's a bit difference, but still a roster spot. That has to be baked into the discussion, too. You're exactly right though: This deal isn't going to be the best example of it, because as of right now, when it comes to major-league talent the Cardinals ended up with more years of guaranteed control than the Dodgers did with Edman.
Tim in NJ: I have read that Nolan Gorman is not in the lineup tonight. Could he be on the move or is it just a bad matchup for him?
DG: A better matchup for Matt Carpenter. And, yes, Eovaldi is the type of pitcher that has given Gorman difficulty before. But more so the career success Carpenter has had against Eovaldi. With the home run tonight, he improved to 7-for-13 against the right-hander.
Stan the Fan: Who gets replaced in the rotation now? Pallante has been pitching well. I am guessing Lynn, but he will not be happy.
DG: TBD. Mozeliak told us today that it's "most likely" going to Pallante. But he said the discussion was ongoing. They would not rule out a six-man rotation for a bit either. That's at least on the mind because of the recent schedule.
JKB: Don't ya hate when work gets in the way of a good chat?
DG: Nah. A good chat is work, too. The goal is all the same -- with the chat, with the articles. Just a busy few days, as you know.
Stan the Fan: With about 24 hours before the deadline, is Mo not done? Could we see a Carlson for a relief pitcher deal coming? Trading Carlson opens up a spot for Pham....
DG: Those could be separate deals. Given what they were able to do today and what it cost them, the Cardinals are still interested in making a bid for a reliever. Yes, they will try and trade Dylan Carlson. Those do not have to be in the same deal.
Eddie: Do you see adding a better bat at dh. Carpenter seems to be a waste of roster space. Thank you
DG: Tommy Pham will be DH sometimes. So, they did that.
Tbird728: Do you know the reasoning behind flipping Contreras and Burleson between #2 and #3 in the order? Seems like Burly was hitting better in the 2 slot. Why fix something that wasn't broken?
DG: Handedness of the opposing pitcher, or the style of the pitcher from that handedness. In short, it's the matchup guiding this -- and, significantly, the wish to avoid stacking the left-handed batters in a way that makes them all neatly in a row for a lefty reliever later in the game.
saytreykid: This Edman deal looks like a repeat of the Montgomery deal with the Yankees. trade a player not currently playing but has a track record for some players you need now.
DG: But that wasn't the Montgomery deal at all. Sure it was current needs, but it was so much more. The Cardinals got Montgomery for the next year, too, and so maybe it's more like the Fedde-Edman deal than you described but in a completely different way than you descriebd.
Eddie: Any hopes of moving Matt Carpenter. He seems to be a roster waste of space.
DG: He just hit a homer, and you seem to have a crusade here that just isn't anything that the Cardinals are looking to do. There has got to be an overlap between the fans who send messages like this into chats, Xwitter, or message boards and will also be the first two vote for Carpenter to the Cardinals' Hall of Fame.
A look at what the Cardinals got in return for pitchers they sold and what it reveals about the costs they can expect to pay shopping for pitchers now.
Andthenisaid: Do Fangraphs and Baseball Reference rerun their simulations every time a roster change is made?
DG: They do it more often than that because they take into account events from the previous day that put results in amber. And then move from there. So that would also suggest injuries are factored in and, sure, deals would shift the predictive model, too.
Kyle: It's being reported that the Cardinals, Dodgers and White Sox are involved in a trade that has sent Tommy Edman to L.A. and Eric Fedde to the Cards
DG: I find this fascinating: When you post this comment to this chat, the story on that trade had already been up on the same web site for a little more than 20 minutes.
Timothy S.: Interesting seeing Pham heading back to STL, potential future trade bait or is this the sign of things ending for Carlson in the Card's OF.
DG: A) They aren't going to trade Tommy Pham less than a few hours after getting him. B) The Post-Dispatch has been reporting since the weekend that the Cardinals are exploring possible deals for Carlson.
John: Doesn't Brent Rooker seem like the perfect trade candidate? Not a FA until 2028, can play OF, DH, 1B. No doubt the cost would be extremely high. Walker, Tink, Mathews, ++? What do you think
DG: You bet he's an appealing trade candidate. The list of teams that would like to trade for Rooker is long. Alas, the list of teams that is actually interested in trading Rooker is short and it's the one team that matters, Oakland. That's a deal the A's would make in the offseason, no? When they could get more teams involved in a real bid-up, possibly.
Amir: Appreciate and respect the commitment - thanks for coming back and answering these
DG: You bet. Had to abruptly leave so there were questions still lingering here. I can catch up scoring the game later, no it's time to find some good questions in the chat. Fair warning: Won't be as long usual though.
Stan the Fan: Another quick question about the trade. I just realized we also got Pham, too. Will he platoon in CF or DH against LH pitchers? Are the problems in the past not an issue, when he was so outspoken? Who will be sent down? Thanks.
DG: He will CF some, DH some, corner outfielder some and yes be against left-handed pitchers, and he will be off the bench quite a bit in late innings to face lefties. The problems of the past weren't a problem in the past, so not sure why they would all of sudden be a problem so far in removed from them not being problems at all. Who will be sent down? TBD. But that choice is coming soon, and the PD has previously reported what the Cardinals are trying to do to clear that spot on the roster.
Bryan C: If Mo only gave up Edman and got Pham and Fedde in return, I understand what the Dodgers gave up but Mo will be the President of the year! What a STEAL!!!!!
DG: I'm going to tiptoe cautiously into this answer.
Looking at what Houston gave up for Kikuchi, what is being lobbed about for Flaherty, what some of these other deals are taking to get deals done ... goodness. The Cardinals traded from depth, traded a player they had not seen all season, and traded 8 months of control of a major-league player for two major-league players who will contribute this week and come with a total of 10 months of control. That just might be a steal, yeah.
We'll see. But the reaction to this deal in some corners of baseball suggest maybe I need to revisit the use of the Obi Wan Kenobi GIF and my answer about the Jedi Mind Trick.
saytreykid: I will miss Edman, would have like to see him in CF, even a platoon with Siani. Long term, Busch Stadium is a pitchers park, so why don't we load up on pitching. Pitching keeps you in games - offenses run hot and cold but good pitching is a constant. we Dont' have many high end pitching prospects, so trade in the offseason seems to be the MO. Can't trade Walker, Scott or any other position player now because you would be selling low. Gorman? Lars Nootbar? I would trade either one becasue they can be replaced. What's your take?
DG: That was a driving philosophy behind what they did this offseason. They said after years of coming up shy with pitching -- something the newspaper pointed out over the past three years -- that they were going to lean into the ballpark, add pitching, get that depth that they had lacked, spend on collecting quality starts and see where it takes them. You have suggested part of what drove their moves of the past 12 months. I would be hesitant to trade Gorman or Nootbaar because they are not so easily replaced and the importance of left-handed production to a team, especially a team that wants to succeed in the postseason, can not be understated. The Cardinals have spent too long searching for a left-handed presence for the lineup to them so quickly trade two possible OPS/SLG contributors. They are not easily replaced, in my view.
GMGirsch (Parody From X): I assume the Cardinals are still looking to add in the bullpen? Really their last thing to do unless an opportunity presents itself elsewhere?
DG: Yes, they are looking for relievers. They are engaging in talks with teams about trading for a reliever. No need to assume. You can count on it. They've said as much on the record, and sources have also confirmed that's what they're doing.
Greg: This team needs their rotation, no matter who is in it, to pitch past the 5th inning consistently. The Cards bullpen is really good but they are wearing out
DG: A lot of truth packed into the short comment.
John W: Ok one guy takes Geo's open spot but who is being let go to make room Crawford?
DG: Brandon Crawford is already on the roster, so no one needs to make room for him. Plus, with no Edman on the horizon, Crawford is the Cardinals' backup shortstop, same as it ever was.
saw: So is Michael Siani the CFer of the present and future now?
DG: Present vs. RHP for sure. He's the starter. The Cardinals' time-honored practice of trading outfielders because someone has outplayed the other to claim the starting job continues. It happened to Rasmus (Jay). It happened to Jay (Pham, right?). It happened to Pham (Bader) and Bader (Carlson) ... With Lane Thomas in there somewhere.
The future? Victor Scott II has a say.
Andthenisaid: Do you think Mo will keep pursuing Brebbia, or are there preferable targets for the bullpen?
DG: Yes. Brebbia or a reliever like Brebbia, but Brebbia has at least been a reliever of interest for the Cardinals.
Kevin in DC: Do you think the Cards would include Walker in a deal for Fedde and Luis Robert?
DG: Nope. Not even if it was bandied about through the course of spitballing for possible matches before Dodgers involvement.
Mike: Good Afternoon Derrick. I just went to a game in Seattle between the tied for 1st Mariners and Astros. The place was I'm guessing 95% filled. The atmosphere was fun and the crowd engaged throughout the game. It was so fun. In my experience, we haven't had that here in several years. What do you think it would take for the Cardinals to get that back? A big signing? A deep playoff run? Thank you.
DG: Either of those things. Some kind of style of player or performance by a player that galvanizing the fan base and becomes an event. Sonny Gray has that kind of talent to be an event pitcher, and that is certainly the Cardinals would welcome. He hasn't yet pitched that consistently or even had that breakout game. Masyn Winn has what the kids call aura, so maybe his style of game draws folks to the ballpark. The Cardinals are missing that sensation of De La Cruz stealing bases, Skenes sizzling 100, and so on -- and yet, I type that and realize the Cardinals are consistently outdrawing both of those teams even on those days. So, that brings it back to winning and playing compelling, meaningful ballgames, and it wouldn't hurt to have a dominant streak of them too. Fans come for that.
wordbird: Hi Derrick, a lingering draft question. At one point, the Cards were among the teams receiving a competitive balance pick, but haven't the past couple drafts. Can you refresh how those are handed out, and what led the Cards to get one in the past but not lately? Thanks for the nop-notch coverage.
DG: They're based on a draw. A team's winning percentage and market size are part of the factors that are used in the equation that determines the odds of drawing. There were a couple of times recently that the Cardinals had among the lowest chances in the group of getting a pick and they got one. The year the Cubs complained about it, the Cardinals had an absurdly small chance of getting a pick because of their winning record and just beat the odds to do it. It's a lottery system like that, and the Cardinals haven't had good odds, and their previous luck is now balancing out.
Tim: Will Luken Baker get another shot? He seems like a forgotten man, but it he's not next year's likely starter at 1b for the Cardinals, he will be someone's starter in the majors, right?
DG: That is an apt description and his path back to the majors just got another obstacle put in front of it with the acquisition of Tommy Pham. There should seemed to be a scenario where it's Baker that ended up getting a look after the deadline as the Cardinals' right-handed bat off the bench. Now it will take an injury ahead of him to make that happen, not a trade to streamline the outfield, because that's where Pham comes in.
Helena: DG. Good morning, I hope that you have excitement headed your way. Oli has mentioned RHB in more than one interview. The "it needs to come from within" is understood. Yet even envisioning the average bat of Taylor Ward on the lineup is significant let alone a bat
DG: Marmol has been among the voices lobbying for the right-handed bat addition, for sure. That said, even any of the general descriptions he gave for that bat was off the bench, spot starts, looks against lefties -- and the real thrust of any improvement for the Cardinals is going to have to come, again, from the right-handed bats already in the middle of the lineup, or designed to be there.
Alex: also, do you think they could get a no 2 level starter for jordan walker?
DG: If they were entertaining such conversations -- and there's no evidence they were -- they should aim higher.
Sue: Hi Derrick thanks for the chats - they are the highlight of my Monday! Once Gallagos was DFA'd, does that lower the return the Cards could get for him? Why would a team trade for him when they can wait until his 7 days are up and just sign him? Am I missing something, or did the Cards give up some leverage by making that move? Thanks.
DG: It does yes. That deal would not be as much about the return as it would be what the team was willing to take on salary wise. What would that look like because you're right the Cardinals don't have much leverage there. The team that trades for him would want to do so before another team took him. That's all. You make the trade so that you know you get him and on terms you want, not the full salary that you pluck off waivers. Save money. Jump to the head of the line. That's why you do the trade. Sign him? Well, then he's a free agent so he can sign anywhere, and you must trade for him to make sure that's with you. Only way.
Tackleberry: Could Lynn be your closer? His first innings are usually very efficient, he could max out and be done. His general mentality seems to fit that of a closer. If so, could they cash in the Helsley now?
DG: This a question I did not expect -- and what a wild pretzel you've twisted yourself into when Ryan Helsley is just fine at closer. He's doing peachy. The Cardinals are going to see how far this ride takes them.
Kim Miller: Derrick, thanks for your time. Did the Cardinals kick the tires of Whit Merrifield before the Braves picked him up? To me there were a lot of plusses. Right handed bat, speed, defensive flexibility. I think Mo might have missed something there.
DG: Can we first note that he hit .190 against lefties so far this season? Not a match. Not from what I could tell from asking or even looking at how he would fit. A lot of what they had, but, yes, the right-handed bat, only one that slugs .329 this year against lefties and the Cardinals aren't looking for that.
BL: Enjoyed the new Deadpool movie last night, but this continues my line of thinking and how it compares to the Cardinals - the MCU and locals, of late, seem to be in a stale state in which the timeline has gotten old and the only recent movies I've enjoyed were bringing back old faces that are fun to watch again. I'm not sure if it's the multiverse timeline that has me bored by the MCU of late, or their sheer saturation of movies/tv shows of late, but like the Cardinals, the product itself is a bit meh with a few flashes of the old magic I so enjoyed a few years ago...
DG: Poetic. What's missing is the inside jokes with the winks, though the return of Tommy Pham will bring some of those. Maybe this trade only continues the comparison you see ...
Mike: Any chance at fairbanks?
DG: There is a chance. Not ruled out by anyone I've spoken to.
Ben: I know health can change things quickly, but do you think instead of using prospect capital when demand/return for relief pitching is so high, that help could return in the form of Matz being moved to the pen?
DG: That is on the table as a possibility -- whether they add a reliever or not. Mozeliak said he expects Matz to pitch for the Cardinals again this season, and we've seen how that could work in relief, and we've seen the Cardinals recently cycle through their looks from the left side of the bullpen. Matz's return could come at a time when that becomes part of his role, a big part of how he contributes.
Amir: It seems like the Cardinals were able to improve, at least on paper, both run prevention and run generation. I feel confident in the team's ability to play above .500 baseball, but I would personally be surprised to see a record better than 86-76. Is this type of regular season enough to give Mozeliak & Marmol another shot in their roles in 2025? Does how they fare in the postseason, assuming they make it, mean more than regular season performance?
DG: All parties have said that the goal is to win the NL Central. Ownership has added that they want to see a deeper run into October. Why not just hold them to the standards they've articulated? Win the division or not. And then, get into October for a deeper run or not. It sure seems like they've set the standards by which they should be judged at season's end.
Speaking of end ...
The game ended awhile ago. The trade deadline is not yet at its end, but it sure is nearing the end. The time I have to write here in the press box tonight is coming to an end. Seems like a good time to start my drive home and then get back to poking around on the next move the Cardinals will make.
Thanks for being patient with the chat today. Same time, same thing next year at the trade deadline chat.
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