Ryan Helsley, a two-time All-Star closer and the longest-serving player for the St. Louis Cardinals, anticipated a trade with a 90 percent likelihood. His prediction came to fruition on Wednesday when the New York Mets secured Helsley, as confirmed by sources to The Athletic’s Will Sammon.
Helsley had previously acknowledged the probability of being traded, stating, “The likelihood is probably as great as it’s ever been for me to get traded.” This statement followed his springtime desire for a contract extension.
In return for Helsley, the Mets have sent prospects Jesus Baez, Nate Dohm, and Frank Elissalt to the Cardinals. Helsley joins Tyler Rogers, who was acquired earlier the same day from the San Francisco Giants, fortifying the Mets’ bullpen alongside Edwin Díaz.
Ranked No. 26 on The Athletic’s final trade deadline Big Board, Helsley’s move follows Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, rated No. 4, being placed on non-disciplinary paid leave amidst a sports betting investigation.
Although Helsley, 30, has not been as dominant this season as in previous years, he remains one of the elite closers in MLB, known for his formidable fastball and lethal slider. As of Wednesday, he has maintained a 3.00 ERA over 36 appearances, tallying 21 saves and 41 strikeouts over 36 innings.
His fastball sits in the 99th percentile for average velocity at 99.3 miles per hour. With chase and whiff rates exceeding 30 percent, he has successfully struck out about a quarter of the batters he has faced this year. Despite some concerns about command, given that his fastball has been hit harder than in past seasons, Helsley’s skill set and experience significantly bolster the Mets’ bullpen.
Helsley is owed $2.6 million for the remainder of the season and is set to enter free agency for the first time after this year. Rather than pursuing relievers with extensive team control, Mets’ executive David Stearns opted for top rental options, consistent with his previous trade deadline strategies.
In this trade, the Mets relinquished three players for Helsley. Unlike the earlier deal for Rogers which involved potential major league contributors, this transaction involves three players at the High A level. None of the traded prospects made it to the top 100 rankings, but Baez, who ranked No. 7 in the Mets system according to Keith Law, possesses the ability to shift to third base. Dohm, a third-round selection from Mississippi State, was ranked No. 17 and has shown promise in his transition to the rotation. Elissalt, a 19th-round draft pick, is currently unranked.
The move to trade Helsley signals the beginning of a sell-off for the Cardinals, who are also likely to trade right-hander Phil Maton and left-hander Steven Matz. The organization is focusing on acquiring prospects to shape its future.
“We have to understand what the future looks like,” said John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations. “As we reflect on what’s best for the organization, there is the longer view in terms of are there decisions that we can make that would better situate the franchise in 2026 and beyond.”
Helsley ranked as the fifth-best relief pitcher on the Big Board and stood out as the top bullpen rental available. His acquisition is part of a significant reshaping of the Mets bullpen, which has seen two pitchers added in the past week. However, there remains a depth of options in the trade market for teams seeking relief pitchers, including Pirates closer David Bednar and Royals closer Carlos Estévez.
This robust trade market for relief pitching, particularly for closers, has already resulted in swift moves, signaling a busy deadline ahead.
