Dodgers, Cardinals & White Sox Three-Team Trade: Scouting Reports On Every Player

Image credit: RHP Erick Fedde (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

The Dodgers, Cardinals and White Sox synced on an extensive trade Monday afternoon, where the Dodgers received Tommy Edman, Michael Kopech and Oliver Gonzalez, the Cardinals landed Erick Fedde plus Tommy Pham and the White Sox got a package of players and prospects that included 3B Alexander Albertus (Dodgers’ No. 16 prospect) and 3B Jeral Perez (Dodgers’ No. 18 prospect) and Miguel Vargas. You can see the Dodgers’ full midseason Top 30 here.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal first reported a deal was close.

DODGERS RECEIVE

Tommy Edman, 2B/OF
Age: 29

Edman has yet to play in 2024 as he recovers from a wrist injury. He has been DHing on an injury rehab assignment at Double-A Springfield, but has yet to play a game in the field. If he can get back to health, he is a near-perfect fit for the Dodgers as a multi-position infielder/outfielder who can play second base, shortstop or any outfield position. Los Angeles could use his versatility as it tries to plug a variety of holes created by injuries. Edman has generally been a slightly below-average player offensively, but his defensive ability and versatility has made him a useful regular. He’s on a two-year, $16.5 million contract and will be a free agent after the 2025 season.

Michael Kopech, RHP
Age: 28

Kopech was once a premium pitching prospect. He came to the White Sox in the Chris Sale trade (along with Yoan Moncada). He had an impressive year in the White Sox bullpen in 2021 and was an excellent starter in 2022. But the wheels came off in 2023 and he led the league in walks. Kopech was moved back to the bullpen this year, but it hasn’t led to a resurgence. He’s a buy-low project for the Dodgers, as his stuff hasn’t diminished. He sits at 99 mph with his fastball, but he’s not showing a lot of confidence in either his cutter or slider, and his below-average control continues to hinder him.

Oliver Gonzalez, RHP
Age: 17

The Cardinals signed Gonzalez out of Panama this past January for $400,000. The projectable righthander showed advanced pitchability for someone his age and has already added several ticks of velocity to his fastball, which has peaked at 93 mph this season in the Dominican Summer League. He backs his fastball with a mid-70s curveball and a low-80s changeup. His frame, feel to pitch and present stuff combine to give Gonzalez the look of a starter, albeit one who is a long way from reaching his ceiling.

CARDINALS RECEIVE

Erick Fedde, RHP
Age: 31

Fedde is the latest pitcher who has used a stint in Asia to blossom into a better, more consistent starter. After a modest career in the Nationals’ rotation, Fedde went to Korea in 2023 to become the ace of the NC Dino’s staff. In his return, he’s been one of the better and more consistent pitchers in the American League. Fedde is 7-4, 3.11 this year with a 3.76 FIP in 21 starts. He’s worked five or more innings in 18 of his 21 starts this year and has yet to have a start where he didn’t record at least 12 outs. Considering his production, his two-year, $15-million contract has proved to be a bargain, and is one of the few bright spots in what’s been a miserable season for the White Sox.

Tommy Pham, OF
Age: 36

Pham is returning to his first pro baseball home. A 16th-round pick of the Cardinals in 2006, he’s the last (and almost only) productive prep bat from that draft class. He’s now an average runner who can play all three outfield spots, but he’s stretched in center field and is better in the corners at this point in his career. Pham was hitting .266/.330/.380 for the White Sox on a modest one-year deal. This is the fourth time he’s been traded at the deadline.

WHITE SOX RECEIVE

Miguel Vargas, OF
Age: 24

At one point, Vargas was one of the best prospects in a loaded Dodgers system. He peaked at No. 29 on BA’s Top 100 and No. 3 in the organization. So far, he has not lived up to that billing when he’s gotten chances in the big leagues. Vargas is hitting just .239/.313/.423 in 71 MLB at-bats this year. The Cuban native has done much better at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he’s posted a 1.005 OPS in 41 games. As a prospect, Vargas was lauded for strong strike-zone discipline, feel for the barrel and an ability to use the whole field. He’d done well to get his body in better shape, which in turn helped him both in the field and on the bases. The move to Chicago should give him a much clearer path to playing time than he found in Los Angeles.

Alexander Albertus, 2B/3B
Age: 19

Albertus, who was signed out of Aruba in 2022, is one of the prospects in the lower levels of the Dodgers’ system with the highest floor. His swing gets to the zone quickly and he keeps the barrel in the zone for a long time, which should give him plenty of hittability and the potential for average power as he matures. Though he’s played mostly third base so far, he’s gotten some exposure at second base and there are evaluators who believe he might wind up at first base as well. Albertus doesn’t have a plus tool on the card, but his hit tool and power both settle in as 50s on the 20-to-80 scouting scale.

Jeral Perez, 2B
Age: 19

Perez announced his presence loudly in 2023, when he led the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League in home runs. He started hot again this year with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga, where he was one of the best hitters in the minor leagues in the early portion of the season. He’s a well-rounded player without a standout tool. Perez might push 50 grades on the 20-to-80 scouting scale for both hitting and power, though some scouts believe both of those tools might only get to fringe-average thanks to a lengthier swing and a vulnerability against spin. On defense, Perez shows limited range at second base and has gotten some reps at third base as well. His ceiling is as a bat-first utility infielder.