Adam Rabel, the most outspoken owner in the DBL, has been complaining about a lack of analysis on what he considers to be the blockbuster trade involving Jim Edmonds. To pacify even the most annoying of owners, here are my humble thoughts:
San Diego Padres receive:
- CF Jim Edmonds (ML, Age 25)
St. Louis Cardinals receive:
- 1995 Kansas City 1st round pick
- 1995 Detroit 4th round pick
- 1995 Toronto 4th round pick
This is the kind of trade that could look brilliant or baffling two years from now. Jim Edmonds is not a finished product. In fact, he’s just as likely to infuriate a fan base as he is to wow it on a given night. But what the Padres have done here is make a bet — not just on upside, but on timing.
Let’s be clear: Edmonds had a rough 1995. His .192 average, 161 strikeouts, and 86 wRC+ tell the story of a hitter who often looked lost. But peel back the layers, and you’ll find a player who walked 69 times, hit 18 home runs, showed flashes of brilliance in July (1.071 OPS), and still posted 1.1 WAR thanks to elite glove work.
The defense is real. Edmonds ranked among the best defensive center fielders again, posting a .987 fielding percentage and positive zone metrics in a full workload. That alone gives San Diego a stable presence up the middle — and perhaps a launching pad if his bat ever catches up to the glove.
What San Diego gave up: The Kansas City 1st is the big piece. While valuable, it won’t be elite in a thinner draft class. In fact, my mock draft is currently showing RF Tony Barron as the pick. The two fourths? Lottery tickets.
Grade (San Diego): B+
A gamble worth making for a team trying to raise its ceiling. If Edmonds figures out the strike zone (his two-strike splits are grim), this could be a steal. If not, it’s still a defensively sound center fielder under team control.
St. Louis’ Perspective:
The Cardinals sell low here. Edmonds still had two years of control, a solid WAR floor, and that tantalizing potential he’s carried since being the No. 3 pick in 1992. But after a .658 OPS season with declining contact rates and 161 Ks, the organization may have decided they weren’t the ones to fix him.
In return, they now hold three more shots at upside. The KC 1st could help immediately. Their scouting department will need to cash in for this trade to feel like more than a soft punt. It’s hard to argue St. Louis maximized value, but they may have optimized timing.
Grade (St. Louis): B-
Sensible if you’ve lost faith, but risky. Edmonds was bad — but not unplayable. If he finds even league-average contact, this deal could age poorly.
Final Word:
San Diego is hoping the glove keeps playing while the bat catches up. St. Louis is hoping the picks become the kind of player Edmonds still might. Only time — and maybe a good hitting coach — will decide who wins.