The St. Louis Cardinals appeared to kick off a rebuild early in the offseason, a move that will continue to shape their decisions going forward. One major choice on the horizon is whether to trade their star closer, Ryan Helsley. ESPN’s David Schoenfield recently predicted that the Cardinals would part ways with Helsley in a major trade this season. With his contract expiring after this year and Spotrac estimating his next deal could be worth around $81 million, the Cardinals face a tough decision.
“Helsley is the obvious choice—he’s a top-tier closer in a contract year and will attract plenty of interest if the Cardinals fall out of contention,” Schoenfield noted.
Given the likelihood that the team won’t be in playoff contention by the trade deadline, moving Helsley makes strategic sense. Letting him walk in free agency without getting anything in return would be a costly missed opportunity. Last year, the Marlins scored a significant return for reliever Tanner Scott. This season, Helsley is arguably the best closer available, and contenders like the Red Sox, Rangers, Dodgers, and others could all be strong fits. Any trade involving him would likely bring the Cardinals a strong haul of prospects. It’s shaping up to be one of the season’s biggest storylines, and it seems only a matter of time before a deal is made.
Leave a Reply