Inside The Cardinals

Erick Fedde Deal Likely Beginning Of Cardinals Trade Deadline Fire Sale

The Cardinals will be sellers at the deadline...
Zach Pressnell|
Jul 6, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Erick Fedde (12) in the dugout after being relieved during the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Jul 6, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Erick Fedde (12) in the dugout after being relieved during the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images

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St. Louis Cardinals

On Sunday night, the St. Louis Cardinals agreed on a deal with the Atlanta Braves to send veteran pitcher Erick Fedde and cash to the Braves in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The Cardinals designated Fedde for assignment earlier this week.

The Cardinals acquired Fedde at the trade deadline last season in a three-team blockbuster with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. The Cardinals lost Tommy Edman in the deal to bring Fedde to St. Louis.

Fedde started 30 games for the Cardinals and struggled more as of late than he had during his entire tenure with the team. He was a solid innings eater at times, but his recent struggles made it easy for St. Louis to cut ties with him.

This trade is likely just the beginning of the moves the Cardinals will make in the coming days.

Closer Ryan Helsley will almost certainly join Fedde as Cardinals pitchers to be traded this year. Unlike Fedde, Helsley would be traded for his incredible trade value rather than his decline in play. Helsley's contract expires at the end of the season and it's unlikely the Cardinals will be able to re-sign him.

Relievers Phil Maton and Steven Matz almost make sense as trade chips for St. Louis. They're on expiring contracts, too, and don't seem likely to return to the team after the season. Both could be traded at peak value this week.

There are rumors the Cardinals could trade Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, and Brendan Donovan, too. Gray and Arenado hold no-trade clauses on their respective contracts, which makes a deal unlikely, but Donovan is free to be dealt if the Cardinals opt to.

Either way, the Cardinals will almost certainly make two or three more trades in the coming days. Buckle up, Cardinals fans.

More MLB: Cardinals Complete Trade To Send Erick Fedde, Cash To Braves

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "St. Louis Cardinals On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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