MLB trade grades: Why Dodgers, Cardinals both get an 'A' for three-team deadline deal with White Sox

The Dodgers acquired Tommy Edman and Michael Kopech in the move, while the Cards got righty Erick Fedde

By R.J. Anderson Jul 29, 2024 at 3:49 pm ET• 7 min read

The Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Chicago White Sox combined for the first three-team trade of deadline season on Monday. The swap sends veteran utility player Tommy Edman and reliever Michael Kopech to the west coast; right-handed starter Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham to St. Louis; and outfielder Miguel Vargas and a pair of prospects to Chicago. In all, the deal sees seven different players change uniforms. 

As is always the case, CBS Sports is spending the deadline providing instant analysis on all the biggest trades (and you can follow the latest moves and rumors here). That includes handing out a letter grade to each involved party. You can find all of that below, but first, here is the trade again in its entirety:

• Dodgers receive: UTL Tommy Edman, RHP Michael Kopech, RHP Oliver Gonzalez
• Cardinals receive: RHP Erick Fedde, OF Tommy Pham, PTBNL from Dodgers
• White Sox receive: OF Miguel Vargas, 2B Jeral Perez, INF Alexander Albertus, PTBNL from Dodgers

Now, onto the good stuff.

Dodgers grade: A

The Dodgers winning the National League West feels so inevitable that it's been easy to overlook what a mess their infield situation has become. With Freddie Freeman out with a family emergency and Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, and Miguel Rojas nursing injuries, the Dodgers have had to resort to staffing their infield with Cavan Biggio, Nick Ahmed, Kiké Hernández, and Gavin Lux. That's not what you'd expect from a venerable superteam. 

Edman, 29, should improve the situation -- this year, and next. He missed the entire season to date after undergoing wrist surgery last fall and has since had his return delayed by, among other things, wrist pain and a sprained ankle. When hearty and hale (and Edman is getting close as he recently began a rehab assignment), Edman is a slightly below-average hitter who gets by on contact and the occasional walk.