St. Louis is officially in rebuild mode. After another disappointing season that fell well below the franchise’s proud standards, the team’s focus has shifted from contending to retooling for the future. That being said—they’ve still held onto Ryan Helsley.
Now, Helsley is no ordinary bullpen arm. We’re talking about a flamethrower who’s been a linchpin in the late innings. But here’s the twist: his contract runs out after the 2025 season. He’s projected to pull in close to $100,000,000 in free agency. Spoiler alert—it probably won’t be with the Cardinals.
If St. Louis is serious about accelerating this rebuild, moving Helsley sooner rather than later makes sense.
And that’s exactly what Zachary Rymer over at Bleacher Report is predicting. In a recent breakdown, Rymer floated the idea of Helsley landing with the Arizona Diamondbacks—a team that could really use some bullpen dominance after their World Series run.
Rymer even pieced together a potential trade package that could send Helsley west. Now, the specifics of the return package weren’t laid out in stone, but we’re talking prospects or controllable talent that could bolster the Cardinals’ future core.
Here’s the deal pitched by Rymer to bring the All-Star closer to Arizona:
- Diamondbacks receive: RHP Ryan Helsley
- Cardinals receive: RHP Yilber Diaz (No. 6 prospect)
The logic checks out. The Cardinals aren’t in a position to sit on valuable trade pieces, and Helsley’s market value will never be higher than it is right now. Teams chasing contention know how rare elite closers are, and Helsley’s triple-digit heat makes him one of the most desirable bullpen weapons out there.
If this trade materializes, it won’t just be a blockbuster but a signal. The Cardinals are playing the long game now. Fans might groan at the idea of waving goodbye to a beloved closer, but in today’s MLB, sometimes you’ve got to make the tough calls to build the next championship core. Stay tuned—things are bound to heat up.
