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The Cardinals acquired starter Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham in a deal that involved the White Sox, Dodgers, and potentially nine different players when it's all completed. Sources told the Post-Dispatch about the deal Monday afternoon ahead of the team's announcing the finalized agreement a few hours before the Cardinals' game at Busch Stadium.

As part of the deal, the Cardinals are sending Gold Glove-winning utility fielder Tommy Edman and right-handed teen-ager Oliver Gonzalez to the Dodgers. Los Angeles is providing the prospects the White Sox sought in any deal. The Cardinals also receive cash in the trade to offset salaries and the potential for a player to be named later.

That last provision is not unusual because Edman is currently on the injured list and his return for this season is not yet scheduled.

"We went into our deadline approach where if we could find someone who could help our rotation, someone who could get a start in October should make it, is something that we were very interested in," said John Mozeliak, the Cardinals' president of baseball operations. "Erick Fedde met that. The complication was really then how to get him. We didn't want to have to do a prospect package."

During the past several weeks, the Post-Dispatch has initially and consistently reported on the Cardinals' interest Fedde, the reason for that interest,Ìý²¹²Ô»å also ongoing interest in dealing for Fedde.

Fedde will join the Cardinals at Wrigley Field on Thursday and he'll make his debut with a start against the Cubs during that four-game visit.

Pham is driving to St. Louis to report Tuesday and be added to the active roster.

The Cardinals will need to clear two spots on the active roster. To make room on the 40-player roster, the Cardinals designated catcher Nick Raposo for assignment. 

Fedde, 31, is 7-4 with a 3.11 ERA in 21 starts for the Sox. In 121 2/3 innings this season, the right-hander has struck out more batters (108) than he's allowed hits (102) and he's walked 34.

Originally with the Washington Nationals, Fedde has a 4.92 ERA in 123 games (109 starts) in the majors, and he's already nearing a career-high for innings in a major-league season. In 2023, he signed to pitch in Korea and had a breakout performance, going 20-6 with a 2.00 ERA in 30 starts. He struck out 209 batters in 180 1/3 innings.

Upon returning from the KBO this past season, he signed a two-year deal with the White Sox that carries him through the 2025 season. He's owed $7.5 million for 2025, and the Cardinals will owe the remainder of his $7.5 million contract for this season.

At the end of 2025, if he's not signed to an extension, the Cardinals will have the option of presenting him with a qualifying offer and securing a compensatory draft pick if he signs elsewhere as a free agent.

Pham, 36, has hit .266 with a .380 slugging percentage and a .710 OPS in 70 games for the White Sox. The Cardinals have sought a right-handed bat to use against lefties, and this season Pham has slugged .471 with an .848 OPS in 61 plate appearances.

He visited the Cardinals in Jupiter, Florida, this past spring in hopes of signing with the team as a free agent, as first reported by Post-Dispatch columnist Ben Frederickson. Pham finished this past season in the World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and he joked with a reporter about what he would seek in his next contract.

"No-trade," he said.

The Cardinals continue to explore trades with teams interested in Dylan Carlson or Giovanny Gallegos, according to sources.

The Cardinals had engaged the White Sox about Pham and reliever John Brebbia, both former Cardinals who would help address a current need.  

Edman is less than a week into his return to a rehab assignment, and he was scheduled to play the field Tuesday for the first time since injuring his ankle. He has yet to play in the majors this season due to wrist surgery in October that was required to alleviate pain and address structural damage.

Edman cleared out his locker during a visit to Busch Stadium on Monday afternoon. He said he expected to play second base for Class AAA Memphis on Tuesday in Durham, North Carolina, but will instead head to the Dodgers to have them set his timetable for return.

"I've seen wild things happen over the trade deadline the last couple of years," Edman said. "It kind of comes out of nowhere to be honest. ... Leading up to this, I had no idea this was going to happen. It started to pick up last night. Came together pretty quickly. Definitely weird. Weird time. Extremely grateful for the time I've gotten to spend in the St. Louis Cardinals organization." 

The Dodgers had interest in Edman, which allowed the Sox and Cardinals to pull them into the discussions to provide the prospects necessary to complete the deal for the Sox's benefit. LA sent third baseman Miguel Vargas, shortstop Alexander Albertus, and shortstop Jeral Perez to the Sox, and in addition to Edman received power right-hander Michael Kopech.