Cardinals Likely to Retain Closer Ryan Helsley Amid Trade Speculations

As the St. Louis Cardinals gear up for a transition to a younger core next season, several players have emerged as potential trade candidates. Chief among them is Ryan Helsley, the team's hard-throwing right-handed closer who is just one year away from free agency. Helsley, known as one of the premier relievers in baseball, is expected to attract significant attention on the trade market.


Despite this, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that teams in contact with the Cardinals anticipate that St. Louis will hold onto their star closer into next season. This sentiment was echoed by the Cardinals' president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak. “(A trade is) something we will always remain open-minded to, but our plan is to have him be part of our organization,” Mozeliak told Rosenthal. This aligns with Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who reported last month that the Cardinals would keep Helsley unless overwhelmed by an offer.


While this stance stops short of entirely removing Helsley from the trade market, it is a clear signal that the Cardinals' front office is inclined to retain him. This is in contrast to more definitive statements from other teams, such as A’s GM David Forst, who recently declared that designated hitter Brent Rooker would not be traded.


Helsley has been a dominant force in the Cardinals' bullpen over the past three years. He burst onto the scene with a stellar 1.25 ERA over 64 2/3 innings in 2022. Although a forearm strain sidelined him for a few months in the 2023 season, he still managed a 2.45 ERA across 36 2/3 innings when he returned to the mound. This year, Helsley enjoyed a fully healthy season, posting a career-best 2.04 ERA over 66 1/3 innings in 65 appearances.


​Given his impressive track record and the Cardinals' current outlook, retaining Helsley could provide stability and experience to a transitioning roster. As the offseason progresses, it will be interesting to see how the Cardinals navigate trade discussions while balancing their need to develop a younger core with the value Helsley brings to their bullpen.