So much for calling it a “transition year.”
At the start of the 2025 season, the St. Louis Cardinals looked like a team straddling two timelines — clinging to remnants of the past while edging toward a rebuild. The prevailing question wasn’t whether they’d make a postseason run, but how many veterans they’d offload before the July 31 trade deadline.
Nolan Arenado? Dealt. Erick Fedde? Traded for prospects. Sonny Gray? Sent to a contender in need of pitching. Even Brendan Donovan, in the midst of a breakout, was being floated in hypothetical deals.
But now, more than a quarter of the way into the season, the narrative in St. Louis has dramatically shifted — from selling mode to a defining moment.
The Cardinals have posted a solid 28–23 record, just three games behind the division-leading Cubs in the NL Central. They’re also only a game back of the final wild-card spot, trailing the Padres, though the race is tight with teams like Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Arizona, and Atlanta all within 3.5 games.
This is no longer about fading away — it’s a full-on playoff race. And that means John Mozeliak and the front office are now facing a different kind of dilemma: not who to trade, but what kind of team they really have.
Are the Cardinals a legitimate playoff sleeper with a seasoned core worthy of reinforcements? Or are they simply treading water — poised to fall out of contention and better off flipping valuable assets while the market’s hot?
MLB Analyst Suggests Cardinals Trade Pending Free Agent Ryan Helsley
No matter which direction the Cardinals ultimately choose, Garrett Kerman of ClutchPoints believes there’s one player they must consider trading: closer Ryan Helsley.
Now in his seventh season with St. Louis, the 30-year-old right-hander has recorded 10 saves in 12 chances, posting a 3.71 ERA with 17 strikeouts over 17 innings. Despite leading the National League with 49 saves last year, Helsley is set to hit free agency after the season. With little expectation that the Cardinals will re-sign him, Kerman argues they should trade him now to acquire assets for the future.
“Helsley, a flamethrower who delivered what many view as the best relief season in Cardinals history in 2024,” Kerman wrote, “is the perfect trade piece for a team looking to stay competitive while building for the long term.”
Kerman also noted that Helsley would be an ideal fit for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are aiming to become the first team to win consecutive World Series titles since the Yankees’ three-peat from 1998 to 2000.
“Adding Helsley would give the Dodgers a dependable closer,” Kerman explained, “shoring up a bullpen that has faltered in late-game situations despite their championship aspirations.”
Trade Proposal Includes Two Dodgers Prospects for Closer Ryan Helsley
As part of the deal, Kerman proposed a package of three players, headlined by two prospects: outfielder Josue De Paula (ranked No. 2 in the Dodgers’ farm system) and right-handed pitcher Nick Frasso (No. 12). He also included 28-year-old reliever Michael Grove, though Grove is unlikely to pitch in 2025 due to shoulder surgery. Instead, alternatives like Jack Dreyer or Anthony Banda could be more practical options.
Still, Kerman’s main argument holds: rather than settling for a compensatory draft pick, the Cardinals should maximize their return for Helsley.
Trading Ryan Helsley isn’t a decision made casually, nor does it signal surrender for the 2025 campaign. Instead, Kerman describes it as a strategic move that reflects the Cardinals’ situation — a team that’s competitive now, but focused on long-term success. “Dealing Helsley at peak value allows St. Louis to strengthen its farm system, prepare for future needs, and maintain flexibility as its young core develops,” he explained.
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