The St. Louis Cardinals, a historically proud MLB franchise, appear hesitant to commit to a full rebuild, but they are clearly keeping an eye on the future.
Earlier this offseason, the front office allowed future Hall of Famer Paul Goldschmidt to leave on a relatively modest free-agent deal.
Meanwhile, trade speculation surrounding All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado has persisted for months, with discussions reportedly ongoing, particularly with the Houston Astros. Arenado’s no-trade clause adds another layer of complexity, leaving his future in St. Louis uncertain.
Another potential trade chip for the Cardinals is right-handed pitcher Erick Fedde. After returning from Korea last offseason, Fedde thrived with the struggling White Sox before being dealt to St. Louis just before the July trade deadline. He continued to impress, posting a solid 3.72 ERA over 10 starts with the Cardinals.
For the season, Fedde finished with a 3.30 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 154 strikeouts across 177.1 innings. Entering his age-32 season with one year and $7.5 million left on his contract, he presents an appealing, low-risk option for contending teams in need of rotation depth.
As Spring Training progresses, Fedde’s trade market is expected to heat up as teams assess their pitching situations. The Cardinals will need to determine the right timing for a potential deal, but they should be in a position to receive a solid return if they decide to move him.
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