Earlier this offseason, the Milwaukee Brewers traded their top closer, Devin Williams, to the New York Yankees, opening up opportunities in the market. This move may set the stage for the St. Louis Cardinals to consider trading their own star player. According to SBNation’s John Stolnis, the Cardinals are likely to explore this option, and he speculates that the star could be moved before spring training begins in 2025.
“Like (Framber) Valdez, he will become a free agent after this season, and as the Cardinals focus on retooling and rebuilding for the future, having last season’s best closer could be more valuable as a trade asset than his contributions on the field in 2025. The 30-year-old posted a 2.04 ERA while finishing a league-high 62 games and leading all of baseball with 49 saves. He ranked 9th in Cy Young voting this year, and over the past three seasons, he has maintained a 1.83 ERA over 152 games (167 2/3 innings), with a K/BB ratio of 225/60,” Stolnis noted. “For a contender needing a reliable closer, it’s hard to argue that Helsley wouldn’t be a superior option compared to Devin Williams before his move to New York.”
As premier free-agent closers like Tanner Scott are signing contracts, Ryan Helsley’s trade value is anticipated to increase substantially. This situation might lead the St. Louis Cardinals to consider more trade offers for him. At the moment, it appears that general manager John Mozeliak intends to keep Helsley. However, the Cardinals’ front office may come to the conclusion that dealing Helsley sooner rather than later could optimize his value. Once Scott’s deal is finalized, trading Helsley might become the most beneficial option.
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