On Friday afternoon, the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers reportedly reached an agreement to trade Brewers’ All-Star closer Devin Williams to the Yankees, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
This move stunned the baseball world, as just weeks ago, the Brewers’ front office had dismissed any rumors about trading Williams. While Milwaukee had initially planned to hold onto him until the 2025 MLB trade deadline, they ultimately decided to move him now.
The St. Louis Cardinals face a similar situation with their closer, Ryan Helsley. Both Williams and Helsley are on expiring contracts and are among the best closers in the game, playing for teams that may not be World Series contenders next season.
Could the Brewers-Yankees deal spark talks about a potential Helsley trade?
The short answer is probably not, but there are several factors to consider.
Milwaukee doesn’t spend as much as St. Louis, and it’s less likely the Brewers will re-sign Williams compared to the Cardinals’ chances of keeping Helsley. If the Cardinals believe they can retain Helsley, they will likely hold onto him. Helsley is projected to sign an $81 million contract in 2025 free agency, according to Spotrac.
The Brewers are also still in the mix for contention. Even though they lost Willy Adames, Milwaukee doesn’t appear to be rebuilding. If they become uncompetitive by the trade deadline, they could start a rebuild. However, the Williams trade netted a major league starter and an MLB-ready infielder, not just prospects.
Ultimately, while the situations of Helsley and Williams are similar, there are key differences. The Cardinals will likely consider trading Helsley up until the deadline, but the Williams trade shouldn’t push them to move Helsley.
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