The Cardinals are reportedly showing significant interest in White Sox right-hander Erick Fedde, according to a report by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale on Sunday. Fedde is part of a group of players the White Sox have made available this season, which includes breakout left-hander Garrett Crochet and star center fielder Luis Robert Jr.
Although Fedde, aged 31, may not have the same level of star power as Crochet or Robert, he remains one of the more attractive options expected to be on the market this summer. A former first-round draft pick, Fedde was widely regarded as a top-100 prospect in baseball during the late 2010s. Despite struggling somewhat at the major league level since his debut with the Nationals in 2017, he continues to draw interest.
During his tenure with the club spanning six seasons, Fedde struggled, posting a disappointing 5.41 ERA over 102 appearances, including 88 starts. These difficulties prompted Fedde to leave affiliated baseball and pitch in the Korea Baseball Organization last year, where he excelled. With the NC Dinos, Fedde had a remarkable season, recording a stellar 2.00 ERA across 180 1/3 innings in 30 starts and striking out 29.5% of the batters he faced, earning him MVP honors.
Fedde’s success in Korea reignited interest from MLB teams, and last winter, the White Sox secured him with a two-year, $15 million contract. The move has proven to be highly successful thus far. In 19 starts this season, Fedde has shown significant improvement compared to his Nationals days. His strikeout rate of 21.6% matches his career-best mark from 2021, and his walk rate of 6.6% is the lowest of his MLB career by a significant margin.
After allowing a troubling 18.1% of his fly balls to become home runs during his tenure with the Nationals, Fedde has significantly improved this year, with only 9.2% of his fly balls leaving the park so far. Overall, he boasts an impressive 2.99 ERA (138 ERA+) and a solid 3.53 FIP (82 FIP-) over 111 1/3 innings this season.
Such production would bolster any contender’s rotation, especially considering Fedde is under contract for the 2025 season at a reasonable $7.5 million. This combination of affordability, extended team control, and performance makes Fedde an attractive target for numerous pitching-needy teams across the league, explaining the Cardinals’ keen interest in him.
The Cardinals have faced challenges due to injuries, particularly with veteran lefty Steven Matz sidelined since late April. This has led them to rely on Andre Pallante and Matthew Liberatore alongside established starters Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, Miles Mikolas, and Kyle Gibson. Despite solid performances from Gray and Gibson, Lynn and Mikolas have struggled, contributing to the team’s overall starters’ ERA of 4.43, placing them in the bottom ten among MLB teams.
Despite these setbacks, St. Louis has rebounded from an early-season slump and currently holds a 52-47 record, firmly in contention for the NL wild-card and just five games behind the Brewers in the NL Central race. Adding a quality starter like Fedde would significantly enhance their postseason prospects, potentially forming a formidable top duo with Gray that could compete favorably against other NL contenders.
Moreover, Fedde’s additional year of team control makes him particularly appealing, especially for a club like the Cardinals, where the rotation’s youth is a concern, with 33-year-old Matz being the youngest starter. With Gibson and Lynn potentially departing in free agency after the season, Fedde’s presence could provide stability and long-term planning for St. Louis’ pitching staff.
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