BREAKING: Cards Send Fedde to Braves for Nothing

The Cardinals’ Decision to Trade Erick Fedde

The St. Louis Cardinals made a surprising move this season by trading Erick Fedde to the Atlanta Braves, reportedly for a player to be named later or cash considerations. This decision came after a difficult year for Fedde, who struggled to find consistency and effectiveness on the mound.

Fedde was originally drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2014, despite undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier that year. He signed with the Nationals for a $2.5 million bonus and was expected to become a back-end starter due to his mid-90s fastball, good command of a slider, and changeup. However, injuries and inconsistent performance kept him from establishing himself as a reliable pitcher.

After being added to the Nationals' roster in 2017, Fedde made several spot starts before being sidelined due to forearm stiffness. His second season in 2018 was cut short again due to shoulder issues. It wasn't until 2021 that he finally found some stability in the rotation, but even then, his performance was inconsistent. The Nationals non-tendered him after the 2022 season, citing poor statistics, including a 129 DRA- and the worst chase rate among pitchers with over 100 innings pitched.

Fedde then signed with the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization, where he dominated with a 20-6 record, a 2.00 ERA, and 209 strikeouts in 180.1 innings. His success earned him both the Cy Young and MVP awards in the KBO, which led to a two-year, $15 million deal with the Chicago White Sox. He was later acquired by the Cardinals in a three-way trade last season.

Despite a strong 2024 season, Fedde struggled in 2025. His strikeout rate dropped to 14.1%, his groundball rate declined, and his walk rate increased. His command of his sinker and cutter suffered, leading to a series of poor performances. In his last five starts from June 25 through July 22, he allowed 33 hits, 26 runs, and eight home runs in just 17.2 innings.

Understanding the Trade Details

The return in this trade is not yet clear, but there are specific rules surrounding such deals. Players traded for a "player to be named later" (PTBNL) must be named within six months of the trade, unless both teams agree to an earlier date. Additionally, any PTBNL deal must include an alternative cash consideration if no player is named.

The player cannot have been designated for assignment by the Braves at the time of the trade, nor can they be on the Braves’ active roster during the period between the trade and the player’s naming. These players are often recent draftees from lower-level leagues, though not always.

Financial Implications of the Trade

The Cardinals are reportedly covering the majority of Fedde’s remaining salary. Based on the structure of the deal, it appears that the Braves would pay Fedde the pro-rated major league minimum for the rest of the season, while the Cardinals cover the remainder.

To calculate this, we start with Fedde’s 2025 salary of $7.5 million, divided by 186 days, resulting in approximately $40,323 per day. The major league minimum for 2025 is $760,000, which equates to about $4,086 per day.

With 62 days left in the regular season, the Braves would pay $253,332, while the Cardinals would owe $2,246,494. This totals approximately $2.5 million, which Fedde is owed for the remainder of the season.

Fedde was set to become a free agent after the season, and the Cardinals’ 40-man roster was at 39 players as of July 23, when he was designated for assignment. This trade marks another step in the team’s ongoing efforts to restructure their pitching staff and find more consistent performers.