3 ideal teams to trade Erick Fedde to for the Chicago White Sox
Erick Fedde has been the second-best pitcher on the White Sox in 2024. The former top prospect inked a two-year, $15 million deal with the White Sox this offseason after spending the 2023 season in Korea.
As mentioned above, Fedde was once a top prospect. The pitcher was selected by the Washington Nationals in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft. Fedde would fail to deliver on his billing as a top prospect, never finishing with an ERA below 4.29. However, in Korea, Fedde excelled with a 20-6 record and a 2.00 ERA.
Fedde has carried that success back over to the States, as the veteran pitcher has a 4-1 record with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. Fedde also has 52 strikeouts to just 15 walks. After 2024, Fedde will have one year remaining on his deal with a salary of $7.5 million. The combination of Fedde's affordable salary and his impressive production should give the pitcher a lively trade market. Baseball insider Bob Nightengale has already stated that the White Sox will indeed shop Fedde this summer.
Today, let's identify the three most logical trade candidates for the White Sox to consider this summer.
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles have been one of the best teams in the American League this season. The Orioles boast a 29-16 record which is good for second place in the tough AL East. The O's are a young team with an impressive core, but some veteran reinforcements could be needed.
Orioles' pitchers have combined for a 3.32 ERA, which is the fourth-best mark in the AL. The top of the rotation has been stellar, anchored by veteran Corbin Burnes and Dean Kremer. Cole irvin and Grayson Rodriguez have held up well also, but there's a spot for another veteran arm. Fedde fits in the Orioles' budget and wouldn't cost as much as some of the other top arms on the market.
The Orioles have the best farm system in baseball, so they could land Fedde if they wanted him. It's also possible that Fedde could be packaged with a slugger like Gavin Sheets or Eloy Jimenez. Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad are a couple of outfield prospects ranked in the top 100 who could interest the Sox.
Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers have struggled to consistently get going in 2024, fresh off of a World Series ring in 2023. The team sits at 24-25 and are currently three games behind the AL West-leading Seattle Mariners.
The Rangers' pitching has not been a strength this season. The team is 18th in team ERA, 16th in WHIP, and 15th in strikeouts. The Rangers have started at least eight different pitchers this season as they deal with injuries to Jacob DeGrom, Max Scherzer, Tyler Mahle, Cody Bradford, and Nathan Eovaldi. Adding a reliable veteran like Fedde could do wonders for the Rangers who hope to run it back this October.
The Rangers have the seventh-ranked farn system in the MLB, so adding Fedde would be no problem. The White Sox should try to land pitcher Brock Porter, who is the 88th-ranked prospect in baseball.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers have likely been the most surprising team in baseball. After the team lost manager Craig Counsell to the division-rival Chicago Cubs and traded their ace, many had low expectations for the team in 2024. However, the team is 28-21 and sitting firmly in first place in the NL Central.
One thing that the Brewers need is pitching. The Brewers are 16th in the MLB in team ERA, 21st in WHIP, and are tied for seventh in home runs allowed. 10 different pitchers have started a game for the Brewers this season, as five starting pitchers are currently on the injured list. Fedde is a perfect fit for the cost-sensitive Brewers.
The Brewers have the third-ranked farm system in the league, and several of these players should interest the Sox. OF Jackson Chourio is one of the best prospects in baseball and would likely be off-limits in a Fedde trade. However, the team could instead ask for corner infielder Tyler Black or versatile infielder Joey Ortiz.
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