The St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly considering a rebuild this offseason, which could involve trading two of their top players, Ryan Helsley and Nolan Arenado. Both stars would demand a significant haul of prospects in return, but determining player value during the offseason can be challenging.
FanSided’s Curt Bishop proposed a trade idea that could send shockwaves through the league. He suggests the Cardinals might package Helsley and Arenado in a blockbuster deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Proposed Trade:
- Dodgers receive: RHP Ryan Helsley, 3B Nolan Arenado
- Cardinals receive: C/OF Daulton Rushing (No. 1 prospect), RHP Nick Frasso (No. 12 prospect), INF/OF Austin Gauthier (No. 24 prospect)
Bishop notes that for this trade to work, the Cardinals would likely need to absorb a portion of Arenado’s contract, which has three years and $74 million remaining. “He’s not the same player he once was,” Bishop wrote. “But by bundling him with Helsley, the Cardinals could still secure a prospect package close to MLB-ready.”
However, this deal seems highly improbable. The Cardinals are unlikely to accept this return, even with the inclusion of their top prospect, Rushing. While Frasso and Gauthier are talented, neither is considered a top-10 prospect, which makes the offer underwhelming for two All-Star players.
To entertain such a trade, the Cardinals would likely demand at least two or three additional prospects, several of whom would need to be top-tier talents. Moreover, there’s speculation that St. Louis may avoid dealing both stars to the Dodgers to prevent making a key rival even more competitive.
Ultimately, while baseball is a business, a trade of this magnitude would require a far greater return to align with the Cardinals’ rebuilding goals.
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