The St. Louis Cardinals appear to be embarking on a complete rebuild, with plans to revitalize their franchise in the coming years. This offseason, they have parted ways with several veteran players and have not pursued any high-profile free agents. Additionally, there are speculations that the Cardinals may look to trade some expiring contracts, such as Nolan Arenado, ahead of the 2025 MLB trade deadline.
Zachary Rymer of Bleacher Report recently forecasted that the Cardinals could trade closer Ryan Helsley before this season’s trade deadline. He also mentioned the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox as possible destinations for Helsley.
“It was an odd position to take, given Helsley’s impending free agency after what will be a transitional year for the Cardinals. But unless the team makes a surprise playoff run, Helsley is bound to end up back on the trading block,” Rymer wrote. “If so, he would stand to be the top reliever on the summer market. “Helsley has a 1.83 ERA across 152 appearances dating back to 2022. Armed with a 100 mph fastball and a devastating slider, he was in the 97th percentile with his whiff rate in 2024. Health will be key for Helsley, who missed time because of knee surgery in 2021 and a forearm strain in 2023. But if he holds together, he’s going to be a hot commodity.”
Helsley is expected to be on the trade market early in the 2025 season. It’s surprising that there hasn’t been more buzz about him being traded this offseason. The hard-throwing closer led the league in saves last year, and with St. Louis unlikely to re-sign him when he becomes a free agent next offseason, Spotrac projects him to land an $81 million contract. The Cardinals could get a significant return for him. Both the Phillies and the Red Sox have the urgency, needs, and prospect assets to make a major move for Helsley in the near future.
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