The St. Louis Cardinals appear to be in the early stages of a rebuild, a direction made clear after they let key veterans depart in free agency and explored trade options for star third baseman Nolan Arenado this past offseason. Now, attention is turning to another big-name player who could be on the move soon—closer Ryan Helsley.
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report recently identified Helsley as one of the top MLB players likely to be dealt before this season’s trade deadline. While the Cardinals could choose to hold onto him and issue a qualifying offer in the offseason—guaranteeing draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere—Kelly believes trading him may offer greater long-term value.
“For a team looking to rebuild its farm system and strengthen its future pipeline, moving Helsley before the deadline could be a smart move,” Kelly wrote. “It might also give outgoing baseball operations president John Mozeliak a chance to tee things up for Chaim Bloom, who’s set to take over.”
Helsley is currently playing on an expiring contract, and Spotrac estimates he could command up to $81 million in free agency this coming offseason. Given the Cardinals’ apparent direction and financial priorities, it’s unlikely they’ll commit to a long-term deal of that magnitude.
As one of the game’s premier flame-throwers, Helsley would likely draw significant trade interest. With contending teams always in search of dominant bullpen arms, the Cardinals could net a strong return—similar to what the Marlins received when they traded Tanner Scott last year.
At this point, nearly any playoff-contending club could emerge as a serious suitor for Helsley, as his combination of velocity, experience, and contract status makes him a valuable midseason asset.
