With the way the Cardinals are playing, it seems highly likely that Ryan Helsley will be traded at the deadline this coming summer. He’s performed well this season, not quite to the level of 2024, but he’s mostly getting the job done, and he’ll bring back a strong package.
However, Randy Karraker recently spoke on 101 ESPN’s “The Fast Lane” and discussed a different path the Cardinals could take. Instead of waiting until the deadline, the Cardinals could trade Ryan Helsley now.
I find this interesting. I haven’t been shy about my opinion on keeping Helsley for 2025. As much as I love having him as the team’s closer, the Cardinals made a mistake holding onto him in the offseason. They’re risking injury and a decline in performance. But here’s what Karraker said.
“I think that if you trade Helsley now — and by the way the Phillies bullpen has been horrific, and the Diamondbacks aren’t getting what they expected out of their bullpen. Both of those franchises have some young and interesting pitchers to move. If I’m Mo’, again I’m going to go to Chaim (Bloom) and say okay, ‘what do you want for Helsley?’ because obviously Chaim is going to have to be the guy that deals with the return on those players. I would move Ryan Helsley tomorrow if they could get something for him.”
Karraker said this on Wednesday, and of course the Cardinals didn’t trade Helsley yesterday. But like Karraker, I believe that trading him in the offseason would have been the wise choice. They could’ve really capitalized on his value after a career year. He saved 49 games and set a franchise record, earning Reliever of the Year honors. If the Cardinals weren’t going to add much of anything to the 2025 roster, then it just didn’t make sense to hold onto Helsley.
Honestly, I would consider this if I’m the Cardinals. Think about it. He’s hardly gotten any work in because the Cardinals have been losing so many games. There haven’t really been many save situations for him, so I think it’s something you have to consider.
If the Cardinals are so obsessed with only using him in save situations, then it doesn’t make sense to hold onto him. He’s in his walk year and needs to pitch. He’ll be able to do that more frequently with a contender.
There are three teams that make sense for Helsley. The Diamondbacks and Phillies are obvious candidates, as Karraker mentioned, but the Rangers also need a closer. I personally like what the Rangers have best, but we’ll get into that another time.
Now, do I think the Cardinals will actually make a Helsley trade in early May? No. I think if they do trade him, it won’t be until at least the end of June. Sometimes trades happen then. The trade the Rangers made to acquire Aroldis Chapman from the Royals in 2023 happened on June 30.
If the Cardinals are several games out of the race and say, six or seven games under .500, then it makes sense to do it then. But why wait? If the Cardinals are going to stay under .500 and not be able to give Helsley opportunities, then why not just punt on the season now and give him a chance to pitch more frequently with a contender? He didn’t pitch at all in their last series with the Reds.
You can still get a massive haul for him and bring in some great prospects. The Cardinals need guys that are going to strengthen the farm system anyway, not more aging veterans. Now is the time to have an eye towards the future, not wait and see if this roster can do the unthinkable and contend.
Mo isn’t fooling anybody when he says that he thinks this team can surprise people. We’re a month into the season, and the Cardinals are already 14-18. Relying on a weak division to remain as such isn’t a viable strategy. Instead, kickstart the reset.
It doesn’t need to be a complete teardown. I’ve never advocated for that. But this team is clearly not a contender, and it’s time for Mo to swallow his pride and accept that 2025 isn’t the year, no matter how bad he wants to go out on a good note.