The St. Louis Cardinals appear to be fully committing to a rebuild. While they’ve managed to hold onto star closer Ryan Helsley so far, that’s expected to change as the season approaches.
As part of their rebuilding strategy, Helsley’s contract expires at the end of the 2025 season. Spotrac estimates he’ll sign an $81 million deal in free agency, but it’s unlikely to be with St. Louis. Trading him would be a strategic move to further the Cardinals’ rebuilding efforts.
Here’s the deal pitched by Rymer to bring the flamethrowing closer to Arizona:
- Arizona Diamondbacks receive: RHP Ryan Helsley
- St. Louis Cardinals receive: RHP Yilber Diaz (No. 6 prospect)
Recently, Zachary Rymer from Bleacher Report predicted the Cardinals would trade Helsley, suggesting a deal that would send the closer to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“According to Mark Feinsand, John Denton, and Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, one of the teams interested (in Helsley) is the Diamondbacks. And they darn well should be,” Rymer wrote. “Though they’ve fortified a rotation that was a weakness in 2024, they have yet to do the same with a bullpen that was a major drain on their win probability.
“A trade for Helsley would not only plug the leak but also turn the pen into a potential strength. The Snakes don’t have a ton to barter with, but they could try to appeal to the Cardinals by offering a prospect who could be put to work right away in St. Louis.”
The Diamondbacks stunned the baseball world this winter by unexpectedly entering the Corbin Burnes sweepstakes and successfully acquiring the ace, outbidding the rest of the league. Adding Ryan Helsley through a trade would further elevate their position in the National League West.
Moves like these would give the Diamondbacks a better chance to compete with the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers.
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