The Atlanta Braves, not expected to be a buyer in advance of Thursday’s MLB trade deadline, have acquired starting pitching help for their injury-depleted rotation.
Erick Fedde, who was designated for assignment this week by the St. Louis Cardinals, was sent to Atlanta along with cash considerations in exchange for a player to be named later Sunday.
The #Braves today acquired RHP Erick Fedde and cash considerations from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. To make room on the 40-man roster, Atlanta transferred RHP Grant Holmes to the 60-day injured list.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 27, 2025
Fedde, 32, was 3-10 with a 5.22 ERA in 20 starts this season for St. Louis.
The veteran right-hander made 31 starts with a 3.30 ERA last year for the White Sox and Cardinals, who acquired him in a July 2024 trade.
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But Fedde has struggled all season, leading the Cardinals to cut him on Wednesday. He had a week to either be traded or placed on outright or unconditional release waivers.
Not surprisingly, the Cardinals found a market for a pitcher capable of eating innings despite a high ERA. Nor was Atlanta a surprising destination.
In acquiring Fedde, the Braves placed right-handed starter Grant Holmes on the 60-day injured list to create a spot on their 40-man roster. The elbow injury to Holmes — who was placed on the 15-day IL earlier in the day — means all five of the club’s starters on Opening Day are now on the injured list.
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Holmes pitched four innings Saturday in the Braves’ 6-5 loss to the Texas Rangers. Initially diagnosed with elbow inflammation, the 60-day IL placement effectively ends his season. It also suggests a more serious injury than his initial diagnosis.
At 44-60 through Sunday, Atlanta is not stocking up on starting pitchers for the stretch run. Rather, they’re looking for arms who can get outs more capably than the pitchers remaining on their depleted depth chart.
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The Cardinals, 54-53 and 3.5 games behind the San Diego Padres for the final Wild Card beth in the National League, are the rare team in the playoff hunt trading away major league starters.
While aspiring to do damage in the postseason, the Cardinals are also mindful of their coming roster turnover. Fedde is owed a pro-rated portion of the $7.5 million remaining on his 2025 contract, and is eligible for free agency at the end of the season. He was unlikely to be back in St. Louis next year even if he finished the season healthy and productive.
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