The rumors are now starting to heat up, with the Los Angeles Dodgers being linked to several big names on the market, with the latest reporting that the team is interested in a super utility type player from St. Louis.
The Dodgers, longtime fans of Tommy Edman, are among the teams considering him.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 29, 2024
Tommy Edman is a very interesting trade target at this trade deadline. He hasn’t played yet this season after offseason wrist surgery, but he has made some rehab starts at Double-A over the past week. The catch, however, is that he has only appeared as a designated hitter.
That’s a pretty big deal for a player whose main value is his versatility. Since 2019, he’s played second base, shortstop, third base and all three outfield positions for the Cardinals. He played center field last year, shortstop the year before and second base in 2021. He’s generally been well-received everywhere he’s played so far.
He has only had an above-average wRC+ in two of his five seasons, and while his batting numbers were 92 in 2023, he did post his best power numbers (.150 solo slugging percentage) since his rookie season in 2019. One wonders what his batting numbers will be like with his extended recovery from wrist surgery.
Still, that level of versatility is extremely valuable, especially for a team like the Dodgers, who are simply trying to fill an open position until their depth is in a healthier state. Edman can fill any number of open positions, and he can fill anywhere once the depth is in a healthy state.
Of course, the DH factor complicates the situation, as does the fact that he hasn’t played at the major league level this year. Will the Cardinals sell him cheap with an extra year of team control, or can the Redbirds, who are in the running for a wild-card spot, find a major leaguer in exchange to fill their own needs?
There are a ton of questions, but he’s a very intriguing player and an ideal trade candidate for the Dodgers. We’ll see if those questions are answered by Tuesday.