With the Cardinals focusing on transitioning to a younger core next season, several St. Louis players emerged as potential trade candidates. Among them, Ryan Helsley stood out due to his status as one of baseball’s top relievers and his impending free agency after 2025. His elite performance and a projected $6.9 million salary in arbitration would likely attract significant trade interest.
However, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that teams in contact with the Cardinals believe they intend to retain Helsley for the upcoming season. This aligns with comments from Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak, who stated: “(A trade is) something we will always remain open-minded to, but our plan is to have him be part of our organization.” Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch similarly reported that the Cardinals were inclined to keep Helsley unless overwhelmed by trade offers.
While not entirely ruling out a trade, Mozeliak’s statements contrast with more definitive declarations, like the Athletics’ commitment to keeping Brent Rooker. Helsley’s dominance over the past three seasons makes him a highly coveted asset. He posted a 1.25 ERA in 2022 and rebounded from a forearm injury in 2023 with a 2.45 ERA across 36 2/3 innings. This year, Helsley delivered a career-best 66 1/3 innings with a 2.04 ERA and led the majors with 49 saves while maintaining excellent strikeout and walk rates.
Helsley’s combination of a triple-digit fastball and devastating slider arguably positions him as the best potential reliever on the trade market. Keeping him, however, involves risk. An offseason trade would allow a new team to make a qualifying offer (QO) if he departs in free agency, whereas a midseason trade would forfeit that possibility. Recent examples, such as Raisel Iglesias and Josh Hader, show that top-tier relievers can garner QOs.
For the Cardinals, holding onto Helsley could indicate optimism about their ability to compete in the NL Central, especially after finishing 83-79 this season. Despite rumors of a teardown, players like Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray, both with no-trade clauses, have expressed interest in staying. While Nolan Arenado might be shopped, the team appears willing to retain most of its core and assess their competitiveness in the early months of 2025.
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