The Yankees are among the teams that have inquired with the Cardinals regarding the availability of infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman, according to The Athletic’s Katie Woo. The Yankees join the Dodgers, whose interest in Edman’s services was discussed earlier today, in inquiring after the versatile switch-hitter.
Edman, 29, has yet to make his season debut in the majors after undergoing wrist surgery last fall. The recovery from that surgery has taken much longer than expected, and while he’s begun a rehab assignment at the Double-A level, that’s come entirely as a DH. It seems unlikely that Edman, who hit just .248/.307/.399 in 137 games for the Cardinals last year, would garner much interest from any club as a DH-only player. Any suitor would likely need to be confident of Edman’s ability to play the field for them this year in order to make a deal.
While his health status is something of a question mark, it’s hardly a surprise that the Yankees would be interested in Edman’s services. After all, the versatile defender has experience at every position on the diamond besides first base and catcher and has shown the ability to be a plus glove at each of those positions. That combination of versatility and defensive excellence is rather rare and, in conjunction with a switch-hitting bat that has produced an almost exactly league average wRC+ of 99 throughout his career, it would make Edman a valuable piece for almost any team. The Yankees, who have gotten below average production from virtually every spot in the lineup not occupied by Juan Soto or Aaron Judge this year, are no exception to that.
It may seem as though the recent deal that sent infielder/outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the Bronx would leave the Yankees without much motivation to acquire Edman. After all, Chisholm is another versatile defender who has experience at both shortstop and center field, and his 103 wRC+ this year is significantly better than the 92 wRC+ Edman posted with the Cardinals in 2023. It’s easy to imagine both players co-existing in the same lineup, however. After all, manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including Brendan Kuty of The Athletic) earlier today that the club plans to use Chisholm at third base when he’s playing the infield. It’s a position that Chisholm has never played before in the majors, but Boone expressed a preference for keeping incumbent second baseman Gleyber Torres (who also has no experience at the hot corner) where he is, at least for the time being.
The addition of Edman, who has 94 games at third in the majors under his belt, could allow the Yankees to add a more experienced glove to the lineup at the hot corner while still providing a significant offensive upgrade over other internal options like DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera. By adding Edman to the mix at third base, the club could either utilize Chisholm as a super-utility type to maximize the club’s offensive production by resting players like Torres and Alex Verdugo against tough matchups, or perhaps the club could even look to deal a bat like Torres or Trent Grisham in order to acquire bullpen help as they’ve been rumored to be considering. Edman could also pair with Chisholm to offer some additional certainty to the Yankees headed into a 2025 season where Soto, Torres, Verdugo, and potentially Anthony Rizzo could all be ticketed for free agency, leaving plenty of holes to fill in the Bronx.
That doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be obstacles to a potential deal, however, even if Edman is healthy enough to be worth dealing for. According to Woo, the Cardinals are believed to be targeting “cost-controlled major-league starting pitching” in return for Edman’s services, with Woo suggesting that St. Louis could target Yankees southpaw Nestor Cortes in return. Cortes, 29, is controlled through the end of the 2025 season just like Edman is and has posted a 4.13 ERA with a 3.99 FIP in 22 starts this year. It’s unclear if the Yankees would be willing to part ways with Cortes or any of their starting pitching options, particularly as rumors swirl surrounding the possibility of them acquiring another arm that would allow them to manage Luis Gil’s innings with a second-half bullpen assignment.
Cortes for Edman, no thanks. Don’t need another Montgomery for Bader like swap.
What if it was cortes for edman, carlson and liberatore?
lmfaoooo yeah, keep dreaming. 3 for a head case
Cortes is a headcase???? Explain?
Cortes is like the Aaron Rodgers of baseball always trying to find loopholes and catch the batter off guard (like doing a pump fake)
It’s not illegal but no one else does it
No one else does it? Don’t watch much baseball, do you? Pitchers have been looking for loopholes from day one.
Kenny Jansen does it
Ok but that doesnt equate to headcase at all lmao nor does Aaron Rodgers try to find “loopholes” in order to generate production, hes just simply one of the best QBs of all time.
I wouldn’t trade Edman for Cortes straight up!
That’s the main cardinals players that irritate me. Just give them away. Don’t irritate me.
I vote yes since Edman is redundant
I think the Yankees getting Chisholm eliminates their need for Edman. Chisholm playing 3b seems kinda silly. Edman can’t really play 3b his arm is a bit weak. Plus why would the Cardinals trade Edman? They need help at center.
“eliminates their need for Edman”..Bringing in guys like J.D Davis(Jon Berti) and Jazz Chisholm suggests the Yankees don’t want to pony up for a more offensively gifted player. I’m not especially high on Gleybar or Verdugo but bringing in Chisholm doesn’t really improve the offensive much if any and I don’t really believe the Yankees will bench D.J(and his large contract) in favor of Jazz Chisholm.
Chisholm is better than Lemahieu. I think long term Chisholm is taking over for Torres at 2b bit for this year not sure what’s going on.
“Better than Lamahieu”…There’s little doubt that at this stage of his career DJL is inferior to Jazz Chisholm as a baseball player. That being said, he’s not enough of an upgrade for the Yankees to eat(completely bench)DJL’s contract. I think DJ will get just as many AB’s as Jazz, if for no other reason than the Yankees trying to recover some of the lost value of the lengthy DJL contract. Contracts have historically influenced, altered and sometimes decided which players play on a given day.
Yeah I mean at this moment I think Lemaheiu will get at bats because he’s the only real 3b. When it comes to infielders you can always use an extra one and get him at bats.
Oswaldo Cabrera has started at 53 games at 3B this season. Jazz played CF and DJL was not in the starting lineup.
DJL might still be rostered because if his contract (which isn’t particularly odd at all) but he’s playing as much as he is because of injuries and crud offense from his 3 positions. He won’t get any PA’s over Chisholm. He won’t be on any playoff roster (assuming they make it) especially if Rizzo and/or Berti show any life before the end of the year. I give it a 50/50 chance he’s released by November. If they hold on to him he’ll certainly be let go in the Spring if there’s no improvement.
Cardinals have the best defensive CF in the NL.
True, but Edman is an infielder first. He only moved to center out of need. Know what is redundant, watching Gorman strike out twice a day!
He moved to CF because the Cards chose to keep Goldie & Arenado at last year’s trade deadline.
Precise deal I was thinking they would swing about 10 days ago if they came up empty on their attempts at Paredes.
Is this joke? I think not! Next! Ahahaha!
Absolutely would love Edman. I’d be shocked if this comes to fruition though. I would be pleasantly airside if they figured out an Edman/Healsley – for – whoever trade.
It’s interesting just how attracted Cashman is to guys with injuries though. He acquires guys with injury issues, then they get injured and he uses the injury excuse as to why they don’t win.
Edman is on a rehab assignment he should be ready to play very soon. But the deal doesn’t make sense for either side.
you went get Helsley. period. If they trade him, it’s meaning the Cardinals are punting in this season. Won’t happen. St Louis fans would riot.
I think the Cardinal fan base is 50/50 on desiring a big sell off or not. I’m in the camp of deal everything you can for the best prospects you can get. The Cardinals are spiraling while other NL teams are surging. When they miss the play offs by plenty the other 50% will wish future motivated moves were made instead of expediting the rebuild. In Mo we know will fail.
Cards are one game out of a WC, with Edman almost ready I am sure a sell-off is off the table.
That means half know what they are talking about and half have no idea what’s going on and half who are trying to get reactions from other fans, posters and don’t about the team at all.
Edman is not a needle moving hitter. He is barely above a league average hitter.
Understandable. I just personally enjoy his pitching and Yankees need a closer. Honestly I don’t even know the Cards needs or what they’re looking for this year. I usually try to keep tabs on them as I like the team, but haven’t had the time this season.
Who in the world do the Yanks have that would help the Cards this year. Edman was an all-star a couple of years ago and Helsley was this year. What the Cards should do is move Edman to 2nd, his best position, bench Gorman, create the best defense in Baseball, and hope for the best, with a couple of young AA starters to be elevated to the Bigs.
Trent Grisham for Dylan Carlson. I would do that.
What does that do for either team? Grisham is redundant with Siani in almost every way.
Grisham is better than Carlson and he has reverse platoon splits. Grisham also has more of a track record than Siani. The benefit to the Yankees would be saving money Carlson is cheap and has another year of team control.
Man, there is no room Edman once Jasson comes up. They’ll have to trade two of either Verdugo, Grisham, and Jones now.
I really think they were talking about Edman before the Chisholm addition. They are fairly similar players.
That is why I would pass. Coming in a package with Healsley is interesting at least. Injured players aren’t win now mode players!
After all, manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including Brendan Kuty of The Athletic) earlier today that the club plans to use Chisholm at third base when he’s playing the infield. It’s a position that Chisholm has never played before in the majors,
What could possibly go wrong?
Go trade for a guy then play him at an unfamiliar position? Why not just trade for a guy at that position to begin with?
100%!!! I hate when teams trade for a guy and put him at an off position. Have they not realized it that it definitely affects their hitting too!!
He’s an athlete, so he has that going for him.
But that was always my question-where was he going to play? Doubtful he is much better than Torres, and he’d be duplicating Verdugo and Grisham.
Coming from Cards fan there’s no position on field he can’t play and be a gold glover at. He is very athletic . May not have a great arm but it’s good enough. Until this year never really had any major injuries. Rather not trade him but need a pitcher
Well actually need more than a pitcher but it’s a start
No thank you on Edman. Don’t need another injury question mark. Berti will be back soon too. That’s enough with the utility guys.
Cashman dropped the ball BIG time by not getting Parades! He could still swing a deal for Yandy and Fairbanks…..which would be a coup!
Defining Edman as a utility player is sinful!
Edman is coming off an injury, just like Jon Berti. Why not just wait for Berti to come back? Cashman should be targeting another bopper to protect Soto and Judge. Also, with Jazz potentially taking a stab at 3B, DJ should be receiving fewer ABs. Yankees should DFA DJ, he’s absolutely cooked at this point, but they won’t they’ll keep giving ABs because that’s what they do with veteran players…
That’s a strong pass from me. Wrist injuries can sap a player right out offensively and his offense was average to begin with. Best of luck on that rehab assignment if you want anything more than a lottery ticket prospect for him.
A Major League starter with a sub 4 FIP is a delusional ask.
Thank God MLB has a 40 man roster. Otherwise the Dodgers would have at least half the league on theirs. Who aren’t they connected to in the offseason and at the trade deadline? They need to sit out for a few years. Or decades.
Just imagine Jazz as a 3B and Gleyer as a 2B… worst infield defense of all time
Torres and DJL need to get off my team. They are taking spots meant for other players. The time is now for Vivas/Pereza
Both of those guys suck!
I don’t know how Jazz would do at third (probably fine, he plays well everywhere), but a quick glance at his stats would’ve told you that Gleyber is EXACTLY a league average defender at second. He’s right at zero, at that defensive runs saved above average stat, in 562 games played at the position.
Worst FLD% and most errors of all 2B this year
Gleyber has always been a primarily offensive player and was one of the best offensive 2Bs last year while being league avg at defense. His offensive woes this year are well documented but there’s a good chance he will finish in the top 10 in WAR for 2B if he continues his high level of play post benching through the end of the year. If he stays right where he is he will be 15th, exactly league average. He’s not the problem. He’s a good player with some flaws. Not everyone is Judge.
He plays every position but 1st and C, but can’t play every position but 1st and C because he can’t use his wrist yet. NO THANKS! Not even for Negative Nestor.
>The Yankees, who have gotten below average production from virtually every spot in the lineup not occupied by Juan Soto or Aaron Judge this year
That’s factually incorrect. They n0. 5 and no. 7 batters produced an OPS of .755 and .743, both well above average.
They’ve gotten bad production out of the no. 1 and no. 4 spots … for the simple reason that Boone is bad at putting a lineup together. He had Rizzo batting 4th for a long time (despite the fact that Stanton was available), and then he put the rookie Rice in there (despite the fact that Gleyber Torres and Austin Well, who are both hitting league average on the year, and above league average for over a month now, were available).
Of course, having a righty batter in the 4 spot would’ve required occasionally flipping Soto and Judge in the order … something that would’ve been a good move anyway, because it would’ve prevented teams from intentionally walking Judge.
Flipping Soto and Judge is still a good idea, and I’m baffled as to why it isn’t happening. Maybe now that Stanton is back, he’ll do it.
Not only is Edman injured, he played SS, 2B and CF last year…..same positions as Jazz plays. Not saying Edman doesn’t have value and couldn’t help…..but why be that redundant and take on an injury risk?