The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Tommy Edman and prospect Oliver Gonzalez from the St. Louis Cardinals, and Michael Kopech from the Chicago White Sox in a three-team trade that was made official Monday afternoon.
The Dodgers traded Miguel Vargas and prospects Jeral Perez and Alexander Albertus to the White Sox. They additionally are going to send Chicago a player to be named later or cash considerations.
The Cardinals acquired Erick Fedde, Tommy Pham and cash from the White Sox. The Dodgers also are going to send a player to be named later or cash considerations to the Cardinals.
Edman is under team control through the 2025 season after he signed a two-year, $16.5 million contract this past January to avoid arbitration.
The 29-year-old has yet to play this season and is currently on the 60-day injured list due to offseason arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist. Edman missed three weeks last July due to right wrist inflammation, and he played through the injury to finish out the season.
The Cardinals were hopeful Edman would make a full recovery in time for Spring Training as he was their projected Opening Day starter in center fielder. That wasn’t the case and Edman’s rehab process has been delayed by a sprained right ankle that was treated with an anti-inflammatory shot.
During the 2023 season, Edman hit .248/.307/.399 with 13 home runs, 69 runs scored, 47 RBI, 27 stolen bases, a 92 wRC+ and 2.4 wins above replacement.
The year prior, Edman performed at an elite level, batting .265/.324/.400 with 13 home runs, 95 runs scored, 57 RBI, 32 stolen bases and a 106 wRC+ and 5.4 WAR backed by elite defense and baserunning.
Kopech has had his struggles at the Major League level, but he’s a former top prospect with plus-stuff and a fastball that averages 99 mph.
Overall this season, Kopech has thrown 43.2 innings with a 4.74 ERA, 3.90 xERA and 4.82 FIP while striking out 30.9% of hitters and walking 12.6%.
His best season came in 2021 when he posted a 3.50 ERA and 2.97 FIP while striking out 36.1% of hitters and walking 8.4%.
Dodgers trade Miguel Vargas & prospects
The Dodgers trading Vargas ends his career as one of their former top prospects. Vargas was named the starting second baseman last year but struggled in his first extended opportunity at the Major League level and was demoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Vargas converted to playing left field this season but still did not carve out a significant role. He hit .239/.313/.423 with four doubles, three home runs and nine RBI in 30 games with the Dodgers this year.
Perez represented the Dodgers in the 2024 Futures Game at Globe Life Field. He played in 75 games for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, batting .264 with 10 homers, 42 RBI and an .800 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Albertus, 19, hit .298 with three homers and 42 RBI in 51 games between the Arizona Complex Dodgers and Quakes. He had been part of the Dodgers organization since signing as an international free agent on June 1, 2022, from Oranjestad, Aruba.
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