Erick Fedde is fully aware of the value he brings to the mound after reinventing his game, and he knows his 2025 salary doesn’t reflect the level of performance the St. Louis Cardinals expect from him.
“I’m very proud to say that people view my contract as cheap,” Fedde told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this past weekend, indicating he’s well aware of the offseason narratives surrounding him.
Fedde has been a clear trade candidate for the Cardinals, and I believe he could bring back significant value. After returning from the KBO last year, he posted a 3.30 ERA in 177.1 innings across 31 starts with the White Sox and Cardinals. He was one of the more valuable starters in baseball while earning just $7.5 million.
Given how the free agent market unfolded this offseason, it’s clear that Fedde would have earned a much higher AAV if teams had the chance to bid on him, and he likely would have received a longer deal as well.
To sum it up: Fedde pitched like one of the best starters in baseball last year while making a fraction of what his performance is worth. That’s the perfect recipe for high trade value.
It’s surprising that the Cardinals haven’t aggressively pursued trades involving Fedde this offseason, but it sounds like they may finally be considering it.
The Cardinals will be open to discussing an Erick Fedde trade if they have confidence in their young arms
In the same story from Derrick Goold, he reported that sources told him the Cardinals are open to discussing a trade for Erick Fedde, particularly if their young pitchers show they’re ready and the team feels it can “afford” to sacrifice immediate stability for long-term benefit.
Top contending teams can never have too much pitching, and while teams like the Tigers and Guardians have previously shown interest in Fedde, spring training injuries could create even more demand for him.
Aside from the potential value the Cardinals could get from trading Fedde, it’s hard to understand why they aren’t actively trying to create spots in the rotation for their young arms. Michael McGreevy is ready to shine, and Quinn Mathews is clearly close to being called up. Even if the Cardinals are right to wait and see what happens in camp, other young pitchers are already showing promise.
Take Tekoah Roby, for example. He’s one of the most overlooked pitching prospects in the Cardinals’ system, especially considering his high ceiling. After joining the team in the Jordan Montgomery trade with the Texas Rangers, Roby dealt with injuries, but now that he’s healthy, he’s really impressed in camp. His stuff has been excellent in bullpen sessions and live batting practices. In his first spring training outing, he threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Should Roby be in the Opening Day rotation? Not yet. But as I’ve pointed out all winter, there are so many young arms who could step up that the Cardinals should be clearing space for them to either sink or swim at the major league level.
Maybe things will work out better for the Cardinals than I’ve given them credit for. If they hold onto Fedde, they could have strong leverage for a trade when a contender needs pitching, especially if no one else is willing to part with their top arms. While signing a veteran from free agency is an option, there’s a reason those players are still available—Fedde has more upside.
I’ve been skeptical that the Cardinals would pursue a move like this, which is why I thought this trade should have happened months ago. But if they are genuinely willing to listen to offers and actually make a deal, they could prove my offseason critiques wrong.
Keep an eye on this situation as camp progresses. If the young pitchers continue to perform well, and injuries start affecting other teams, a trade could become a reality.
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