Among other moves made this year, the Los Angeles Dodgers addressed multiple needs by acquiring Tommy Edman and Michael Kopech in a three-team trade with the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals at the deadline.
Although the deal wasn’t for an overwhelming addition to the lineup, particularly considering Edman has not played at all this season, he brings plenty of versatility.
Moreover, being under team control through 2025, Edman has an opportunity to carve out a solid role with the Dodgers. In 2023, he 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 Dodgers have been keeping their eye on the 29-year-old for several seasons but nearly missed out yet again as the Cardinals were on the verge of trading Edman to the White Sox, per Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
For the last several years, the team had tried repeatedly to pry utility man Tommy Edman away from the St. Louis Cardinals. Then, about 36 hours before the July 30 trade deadline, they got wind the Cardinals were nearing a deal for pitcher Erick Fedde that would send Edman to the Chicago White Sox instead.
Getting themselves in the middle of that deal wasn’t an easy task, but Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes took an aggressive approach to orchestrate a three-team trade:
So, in one of the more complicated maneuvers any team made this deadline, Gomes got on the phone and wedged the Dodgers into the middle of those trade talks.
“There was a lot of conversation with the White Sox about, ‘Do you think you can get Edman for us?’” Gomes said. “Let’s try to figure this out.”
The three-team trade provided the Dodgers with two key pieces to their team going forward. Kopech in the bullpen, and with the addition of Edman, the Dodgers came away from the trade with a highly positive outcome.
Edman is on track to join the team for his Dodgers debut on Monday. He’s spent the past week on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City alongside Max Muncy.
Where does Tommy Edman fit into Dodgers’ plans?
Once Edman returns from his rehab assignment, manager Dave Roberts stated he’ll get the bulk of starts in center field. In a position that requires a sure-handed glove, of which Edman fits the bill.
This move will bump fellow outfielder Andy Pages into a supplementary role, while providing the Dodgers with a stable and consistent outfield along with Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández.
Also bringing a switch-hitting bat, the Dodgers won’t need to rely on a platoon to regularly work Edman into their plans. His versatility to play high-level defense in the infield is also a major plus, as he can spell Miguel Rojas at shortstop in certain matchups.
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