The New York Yankees have done an impressive job pivoting after missing out on Juan Soto in free agency. They’ve bolstered their roster with plenty of talent, but their work isn’t finished yet.
One area they might still target is the bullpen, with St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley emerging as a prime trade candidate. The Yankees could attempt to structure a trade involving Marcus Stroman, though the Cardinals have reportedly turned down a Stroman-for-Nolan Arenado deal in the past.
Here’s a potential trade scenario to bring Helsley to the Bronx:
Yankees receive: RHP Ryan Helsley, RHP Miles Mikolas
Cardinals receive: RHP Marcus Stroman, RHP Chase Hampton (No. 6 prospect)
This deal has several layers to unpack. First, there’s the Stroman-for-Mikolas component. Mikolas would head to New York but likely be released, with the Yankees absorbing the remainder of his contract. Meanwhile, the Cardinals would gain Stroman, who has a vesting option for 2026. This swap alleviates a year of financial strain for the Yankees while upgrading the Cardinals’ rotation.
The second aspect involves Helsley and Yankees’ prospect Chase Hampton. At 23, Hampton boasts an impressive repertoire of dominant pitches, giving him the potential to become a front-line starter in the future.
For the Yankees, acquiring Helsley would be a luxury move. While they already have Devin Williams as their closer, adding Helsley would create a fearsome bullpen duo, potentially one of the most dominant in MLB history.
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