How Did the Dodgers Pry Tommy Edman From the Cardinals?

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ successful acquisition of Tommy Edman at the trade deadline was in large part due to the work of general manager Brandon Gomes.

According to multiple reports, the Dodgers had been targeting Edman — a versatile defender — for some time. But it was not until they inserted themselves in a three-way deal with the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals on July 29 that they finally were able to acquire their target.

Just 36 hours before the deadline, the Dodgers’ front office caught wind of a trade that would send Edman to the Chicago White Sox, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. Gomes started making calls to tie the Dodgers into the deal.

“There was a lot of conversation with the White Sox about, ‘Do you think you can get Edman for us?’” Gomes told Harris. “Let’s try to figure this out.”

The move by Gomes was anything but simple. It was chaotic and crazy, but quite frankly necessary.

“A lot of people might have, just on emotion, gotten frustrated and it wouldn’t have happened,” Alex Slater, another Dodgers assistant general manager, told Harris. “He was the air traffic controller, and that was a plane that got rerouted like six different times. But he landed the plane. And it was a really important plane to land.”

Eventually, Gomes’ efforts transformed into a three-team trade with the Cardinals and the White Sox, which landed the Dodgers Edman as well as relief pitcher Michael Kopech.

“It’s very stressful and exhausting,” Gomes said as he reflected on the deadline. “But it’s one of the great parts of the job.”

Edman is a career .265 hitter while Kopech is a right-handed reliever with a 101-mph fastball. While Kopech has already added neded depth to the Dodgers’ bullpen, Edman is set to make his debut for the Dodgers relatively soon.

The utility man recently began his rehab assignment on Saturday with teammate Max Muncy in Triple-A. Once the pair are deemed healthy enough to return to Los Angeles, their assignment with Oklahoma City will come to an end.

Kopech has served the Dodgers’ bullpen well. Since being traded to the Dodgers, Kopech has pitched 5.1 innings, allowed one hit, and struck out eight batters.

Ultimately, Gomes is the unsung hero Dodgers fans can thank for orchestrating one of the best trades by any team the deadline. All that’s left is to see the club play deep into the postseason.

Photo Credit: Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

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