The St. Louis Cardinals recently secured a significant series victory over the New York Mets, capped by a Sunday doubleheader sweep that improved their record to 16-19. Despite the momentum, the team is still expected to be sellers at the upcoming trade deadline.
One major move on the table could involve trading All-Star closer. Such a deal could net the Cardinals a valuable return, potentially including a top-tier prospect. Given the demand for elite bullpen arms, several teams would likely show interest.
Among those teams are the Philadelphia Phillies, especially with Jordan Romano struggling in the closer role. Jim Bowden of The Athletic suggested a blockbuster deal that would send Helsley to Philadelphia in exchange for top pitching prospect Mick Abel. While still speculative, this type of trade could be a smart move for St. Louis as they look to strengthen their farm system.
Cardinals should jump on opportunity to trade closer for top Phillies prospect
Abel’s development has been gradual, as Bowden notes, but he’s started strong in 2025 with a 2.75 ERA and improved control. St. Louis, always in need of more pitching depth, could benefit from that.
Matthew Liberatore and Michael McGreevy have shown promise, and both Gordon Graceffo and Andre Pallante also have encouraging potential. The farm system features Quinn Mathews and Tink Hence, though both are currently sidelined by injuries. Given the unpredictability of pitching health, acquiring another quality arm could help the Cardinals recapture their reputation for producing reliable pitchers.
To land Abel, the Phillies would need a significant return—and Ryan Helsley might be the type of player who makes that deal possible. While the Cardinals arguably missed their best chance to trade him in the offseason, they still have time to move him before he reaches free agency.
Helsley is unlikely to remain in St. Louis beyond 2025, so trading him now could prevent the team from settling for just a compensatory pick. If the Cardinals do make this move, they could roll into 2026 with a rotation featuring Abel, Liberatore, Pallante, McGreevy, and Sonny Gray—a group that has the potential to become one of baseball’s top young rotations.
With the trade deadline approaching, much will depend on the Cardinals’ position in the standings. If they’re out of the race, a move like this could accelerate their retooling and put them back on a path toward contention in 2026.
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