The Cardinals had a mixed showing at this year’s trade deadline. While they did manage to complete three bullpen-focused moves on deadline day itself, the front office also pulled off an additional deal earlier in the week. On July 27, Cardinals sent Erick Fedde to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations. At the time, the trade wasn’t viewed as a major loss, largely because of how poorly Fedde had performed in St. Louis. In 19 appearances with the Cardinals, the veteran right-hander struggled badly, posting a 3–10 record with a 5.22 ERA, 5.48 FIP, and a flat 0.0 WAR across 101 2/3 innings.
Unfortunately for him, things didn’t turn around after the move.
In Atlanta, Fedde continued to flounder, allowing runs at an even higher clip. Over 23 1/3 innings with the Braves, he was tagged for an 8.10 ERA and the same 5.48 FIP, compiling a -0.6 WAR before the club finally cut ties with him on August 24. With the Braves effectively out of the postseason race, the organization chose not to waste any more time hoping for a turnaround.
But baseball has a way of offering second chances—and sometimes those chances come in surprising places. Just a few days after being released, Fedde found a new home with none other than one of St. Louis’ fiercest division rivals: the Milwaukee Brewers.
Now, to be fair to Milwaukee, this signing isn’t necessarily a white flag on their championship aspirations. The Brewers still own the best record in baseball and remain a clear contender, but their starting rotation has been hit hard by injuries. Jacob Misiorowski, Logan Henderson, and Quinn Priester have all gone down recently, and with the team staring at a grueling stretch of 19 games in 18 days, depth has become a necessity. Even if Fedde is only asked to soak up innings here and there, his presence provides a temporary safety net for a taxed pitching staff.
That being said, it’s still hard not to view the move as a bit of an embarrassment for a team with legitimate World Series hopes. Fedde hasn’t pitched anywhere near a major-league standard this year, and his struggles have been consistent in both the NL Central and the NL East. It’s the kind of acquisition that feels beneath a team at the top of the league standings, even if it is made out of sheer necessity.
Of course, Cubs fans might not see it as such a head-scratcher. In fact, every scheduled start Fedde makes in a Brewers uniform could be seen as a gift, potentially cracking the door open for Chicago to snatch back the NL Central crown. And while it seems unlikely that Fedde will remain in the rotation for long, the reality is that because he signed before September, he’s eligible to appear on Milwaukee’s postseason roster.
That’s the twist of irony that makes baseball so unpredictable: Erick Fedde, who couldn’t stick with the Cardinals or Braves, could realistically be pitching in October for the National League’s top seed. Meanwhile, St. Louis will be watching the playoffs from home. Moments like these are a reminder that baseball doesn’t always follow a neat script—sometimes, it just has a way of laughing at its fans.