As the St. Louis Cardinals find themselves just 1.5 games outside the National League Wild Card race and 5.5 games behind in the NL Central, the team is at a critical moment in the season. Recent setbacks, including consecutive series losses and the risk of a third straight defeat against the Washington Nationals, have intensified the urgency as the trade deadline nears. The franchise must now carefully evaluate its assets to determine how best to compete in the coming weeks.
Relievers Like Ryan Helsley Are Key Trade Prospects
Among the Cardinals’ valuable players, relievers Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, and Steven Matz stand out as prime candidates to be traded. Helsley, in particular, is attracting attention from contenders looking to strengthen their bullpens. His strong career résumé and current season performance position him as one of the most sought-after relievers on the trade market, making him a potentially game-changing asset for interested teams.
Why Ryan Helsley Could Transform Boston’s Bullpen
The Boston Red Sox have emerged as a leading potential destination for Helsley, whose presence could significantly improve their bullpen performance. Boston’s relief corps has struggled with control and generating strikeouts, especially when star reliever Aroldis Chapman is unavailable. Helsley’s arrival might reshape the back end of the Red Sox’s pitching staff by forming a potent setup-closer combination, thereby bolstering the team’s late-inning strategy and complementing a rotation that has shown recent promise.
Helsley’s proven experience underscores his value: last season, he set a franchise record with 49 saves and earned the National League Reliever of the Year honors, demonstrating his capability in high-pressure situations. Although his current year stats include a modest regression—a 3.19 ERA and 18 saves over 31 appearances—he continues to be a dependable relief pitcher for teams in contention.
St. Louis Must Decide Between Immediate Gains or Long-Term Planning
For the Cardinals, the choice to trade Helsley entails weighing immediate benefits against future prospects. Holding onto Helsley through the offseason might have passed up an ideal chance to acquire promising young talent. Now, as the deadline looms, St. Louis faces a pivotal call: to leverage the value of Helsley and Boston’s strong farm system, shaped in part by Cardinals executive Chaim Bloom, or to retain him in hopes of a late-season push.
Implications of the Trade Deadline for the Cardinals and Helsley
The approaching deadline marks a turning point that could define not only Ryan Helsley’s career path but also the trajectory of the Cardinals franchise. Whether the team opts to trade Helsley and gain future assets or hold him to enhance their current roster will influence both their short-term competitiveness and long-term direction. The decisions made now carry significant consequences for the organization, potentially shaping the Cardinals’ outlook well beyond this season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How fast does Ryan Helsley throw?
A. Pitch Repertoire Overview As of 2025, they mainly use a Fourseam Fastball at 99mph and a Slider at 89mph, while occasionally using a Curve at 80mph. They infrequently throw a Cutter, which is 93mph.