The Houston Astros are in a sticky spot heading into the MLB trade deadline. Recent injuries to Isaac Paredes and Lance McCullers Jr. have derailed Dana Brown's strategy as the July 31 deadline approaches, but the St. Louis Cardinals may have just given the Astros an easy way out.
On Wednesday, the Cardinals designated starting pitcher Erick Fedde for assignment. The right-hander has struggled mightily in his second season with the Cardinals, and was recently added to the trade block. St. Louis, obviously not receiving any meaningful offers for Fedde, decided instead to DFA the veteran a little more than a week before the deadline.