The New York Mets were one of the most aggressive buyers at the MLB trade deadline, with their headline move being the acquisition of St. Louis Cardinals closer. At first glance, pairing Him with established star Edwin Díaz seemed like a masterstroke to bolster the bullpen.
However, things have gone south quickly. He has struggled mightily in New York, looking more like a liability than a deadline prize.
His latest appearance against the Detroit Tigers was another disaster—he recorded just two outs while giving up three hits, three runs, a walk, and a home run. The Mets trailed 3-2 when he entered, but by the time he left, the deficit had grown to 6-2. It was his second straight outing in the series without completing a full inning.
Since joining the Mets, Helsley has been a mess statistically: a 9.31 ERA in 12 August appearances over 9 2/3 innings, followed by an even uglier 27.00 ERA across two September games.
He hasn’t been used in his typical closer role, which could explain some of the struggles, but regardless, he’s blown all four of his save chances since the trade.
What once looked like a brilliant move is now in question. Helsley has become so unreliable that he’s at real risk of being left off the Mets’ postseason roster, leaving manager Carlos Mendoza with a difficult decision if New York secures a playoff berth.
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