All-Star closer Ryan Helsley is now the longest-tenured player on the St. Louis Cardinals. The 30-year-old was drafted in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB Draft and is entering his tenth season with the organization—longer than anyone else on the current roster.
This past offseason, Helsley was considered a prime trade candidate following his All-Star selection and league-leading 49 saves in 2024. With his contract set to expire after the 2025 season and his salary increasing through arbitration, his future with the Cardinals seemed uncertain, especially as the team is not in full contention mode.
Despite this, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak decided to retain Helsley as the team’s closer. In December, Mozeliak reaffirmed this stance, stating, “It’s something we will always remain open-minded to, but our plan is to have him be part of our organization.” He even contacted Helsley’s representatives at Wasserman to confirm that the right-hander was staying put.
With the Cardinals in a transition year, the question remains: what will they do with one of the league’s top relievers? A trade could still be in play down the line, but an extension may also be an option—one that Helsley himself appears open to.
The St. Louis Cardinals and Ryan Helsley are not on the same page when it comes to extension talks.
According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, Ryan Helsley is more than willing to sign a multi-year extension to remain with the St. Louis Cardinals. “I would love to stay here. Cardinals baseball, you think of winning baseball, so surely they’re not going to try to be average or below average for too long. Hopefully, I can pitch at a high level for four or five more years,” Helsley said.
However, the Cardinals have been less committal about retaining their longtime closer beyond 2025. With Chaim Bloom set to replace John Mozeliak as president of baseball operations, the team will undergo significant changes.
Several high-priced veterans will hit free agency this winter, giving Bloom a clean slate to shape the roster. While he may see Helsley as a stabilizing force in the bullpen, he could also opt for a younger, more cost-effective alternative like Tink Hence, Gordon Graceffo, or Ryan Fernandez.
As of now, no extension talks have taken place. “With changes in leadership coming up, I feel like they’ve probably just decided to keep this as is and see what happens,” Helsley noted. “Maybe at the end of the season, there will be something, but as of right now, there’s been nothing.”
A potential extension would be complicated by Helsley’s age and role. At 30, he is firmly established as a reliever, making contracts like those of Josh Hader and Edwin Díaz potential benchmarks. On the lower end, Emmanuel Clase’s extension with Cleveland could serve as a reference, though Clase’s deal covered several arbitration years.
Josh Jacobs of Redbird Rants suggested a five-year, $75 million contract that could extend to six years and $92 million with a mutual option for 2030. However, since Helsley has already agreed to a one-year, $8.2 million deal for 2025, any proposal would need adjustments.
One intriguing option for the Cardinals would be converting Helsley back into a starting pitcher. He was a starter in the minors from 2015 to 2017, posting an ERA below 2.72 each season while holding hitters to a .221 average and a .582 OPS. Developing a third pitch, such as a curveball, could help facilitate that transition.
Despite the uncertainty, keeping Helsley long-term offers clear benefits for both parties. He could provide veteran leadership for younger pitchers and potentially cement his legacy as a career-long Cardinal. Whether as a closer or a reinvented starter, Helsley’s future in St. Louis remains an open question.
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