At this year’s trade deadline, the St. Louis Cardinals acted as sellers, trading away three relief pitchers who were nearing the end of their contracts.
Among them was closer Ryan Helsley, the 2024 National League Reliever of the Year. On July 30, St. Louis dealt Helsley to the New York Mets, but his time in New York proved difficult, as he struggled to a 7.20 ERA with the team.
The 31-year-old flamethrower is now a free agent after his rough stint in New York. Chad Jennings, Aaron Gleeman and Tim Britton of The Athletic listed him among the top 50 free agents and had a reunion with the Cardinals as a possible fit.
“Helsley is hitting free agency one year removed from his best season and coming off a two-month stint with the Mets that went more or less disastrously. Helsley can still motor his fastball up to 100 mph, and when he’s right, his slider is difficult to lay off. But his numbers with St. Louis were more pedestrian up to the trade deadline, and a pitch-tipping issue waylaid his time in New York.”
Even with a rough 2025 season, Helsley still brings elite velocity, routinely hitting triple digits with his fastball. When he’s on, his combination of speed and a devastating slider makes him nearly unhittable. During his time with St. Louis, Helsley not only anchored the bullpen but set a franchise record with 49 saves in 2024, proving that he can handle the pressure of closing games in a competitive environment.
For a Cardinals team that’s expected to stay patient during Bloom’s early years at the helm, a short-term reunion could be a perfect fit. Helsley likely won’t command a large contract after his struggles in New York, which makes him the type of low-risk, high-upside signing Bloom tends to target.
For Helsley, returning to St. Louis offers the chance to rebuild his value in a familiar environment, in front of fans who watched him grow into an All-Star. For the Cardinals, it’s an affordable move that could quietly pay off in a big way.
This offseason, don’t be surprised if the Cardinals explore a reunion with one of their most electric former closers as they continue reshaping the roster for 2026 and beyond.
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