Well, if it wasn’t clear before, it is now: Ryan Helsley knows he’s probably pitching his final innings for the Cardinals and a trade is imminent. He’s not sugarcoating it.
Ryan Helsley does not Mince Words
With the trade deadline just days away and St. Louis back in a late-July spiral, Helsley told The Athletic’s Katie Woo point blank:
“I would say it’s 90% I go, 10% I stay.”
That’s not insider rumor or innuendo. That’s straight from the man himself — a former All-Star closer, one of the hardest-throwing arms in baseball, and arguably the most valuable trade chip on the Cardinals’ roster.
If/When Ryan Helsley is traded, who closes for the Cardinals? We have an idea.
Let’s back up.
Coming into the season, the Cardinals made no secret about wanting to trim payroll and shift toward a younger, more sustainable roster. That put Helsley, with one year of control remaining and a salary of $8.2 million, on every contender’s radar.
Why Trade Helsley Now?
But then… they didn’t move him. Not during the offseason or before Opening Day. Not even during their early hot stretch that put them squarely in the playoff picture.
Now? After losing 13 of their last 19 and watching the Cubs and Brewers pull away in the division, the vibe has changed. The Cardinals are hanging around the Wild Card race — just 2.5 games out — but there’s a crowded field ahead of them. And the front office isn’t ignoring the odds.
According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals are now actively listening to offers not just on Ryan Helsley, but also on Phil Maton, Steven Matz, John King, and even Nolan Gorman. Yep — Gorman.
High Value means High Return in a Trade
And it makes sense. Helsley’s value might never be higher from a trade standpoint than it is right now. He’s still averaging 99 mph with his fastball, still logging high-leverage innings, and still viewed around the league as one of the few bullpen arms who can jump into a pennant race and make a real difference.
The results this year? Solid, if not quite elite. A 3.09 ERA over 35 innings, 36 strikeouts, 5 blown saves, and some trending-down swing-and-miss numbers. His K rate has slipped from the mid-30s into the mid-20s, and the command hasn’t been quite as sharp. But when you’re talking about deadline deals, velocity and experience still matter most — and Helsley brings both.
Teams like the Dodgers, Phillies, and Blue Jays are in the mix, according to Woo and colleague Will Sammon. And more are likely circling. With names like Emmanuel Clase, Jhoan Duran, and David Bednar commanding steep prospect prices due to multiple years of control, Helsley becomes the affordable flamethrower contenders will try to land.
Could the Cardinals hold onto him and make a qualifying offer this winter? Sure. But that assumes health and performance — and if there’s one thing deadline sellers don’t like, it’s betting on the unknown. This is the moment to cash in.
Ryan Helsley’s preference, by the way? To stay. “I want to win here,” he told The Athletic. “But it’s out of my hands.”
Not for much longer.
