The Atlanta Braves find themselves at a pivotal crossroads heading into the 2025 season. With the starting rotation showing more uncertainty than they’d like, it makes sense for them to revisit missed opportunities from the trade deadline. One name popping up again? According to Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly, Erick Fedde could be a practical target for the Braves as they navigate the Winter Meetings.
Kelly’s proposal doesn’t map out the deal’s specifics, but the logic behind it is crystal clear. The Braves need reliable, experienced arms to stabilize a rotation that’s currently in a state of flux. Max Fried and Charlie Morton’s pending free agency leaves a gaping hole, and Spencer Strider’s recovery timeline remains murky after his elbow surgery. Chris Sale and Reynaldo López have serious upside, but depending on them for a full 33-start campaign feels optimistic at best.
Enter Fedde. The 31-year-old right-hander might not have set MLB on fire in his early years, but his 2023 renaissance is hard to ignore. After a dominant stint in South Korea with the NC Dinos—where he posted a jaw-dropping 20-6 record, a 2.30 ERA, and a 0.954 WHIP—Fedde returned stateside looking like a completely different pitcher.
In 2024, split between the White Sox and Cardinals, he notched a 3.30 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 126 across 31 starts. That’s 177 1/3 innings of solid, consistent work. He’s no longer the guy who struggled with a 5.41 ERA during his Washington Nationals days.
Financially, this move is right up the Braves’ alley. Fedde’s contract has just one year left at a very manageable $7.5 million. This price tag is a gift for a team keen on bolstering the rotation while staying under the luxury tax. Plus, the cost of trade assets shouldn’t be prohibitive. Considering Fedde arrived in St. Louis via a three-team deal, the Braves might only need to part with a decent minor leaguer to get it done. No need to gut the farm system or offload major league talent.
Of course, the Braves have been here before. Jim Bowden of The Athletic previously pegged them as a good fit for Fedde when he was still with the White Sox before the deadline. The stars didn’t align then, but circumstances have shifted. With the offseason heating up, now could be the perfect time to make this deal happen.
Securing Fedde would plug a major gap in the rotation and give the Braves flexibility to pursue a big-name free agent or two. It’s the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that could pay off in a big way come October. Let’s be honest, every rotation spot matters for a team with championship aspirations.
Keeping Erick Fedde in the conversation feels like a no-brainer while the Braves weigh their options. He’s got the experience, the consistency, and the contract that fits just right. The Braves might not want to let this one slip through their fingers again this winter.
