The New York Yankees will likely be very active between now and the MLB trade deadline, and one potential trade partner could be the St. Louis Cardinals. But no; it’s not because of Nolan Arenado this time.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan has come up with a list of 50 trade candidates in the lead up to the deadline, and Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley made the list. Passan then listed the Yankees — who already have a very good bullpen as it is — as a potential landing spot for him.
Here’s the thing: you can never have too much pitching. Injuries happen, and so do slumps. For that reason, having arm depth is always great, so it is entirely possible that New York could be in the market for a reliever in the coming weeks.
Plus, Helsley isn’t just any relief pitcher. He has been one of the best in baseball over the last several years, earning a pair of All-Star selections in 2022 and 2024. Heck, he even received NL Cy Young consideration last season, finishing ninth in the voting.
The 30-year-old hasn’t been quite as dominant this year, laying claim to a 3.54 ERA and a rather alarming 1.464 WHIP. He has allowed 29 hits while registering 33 strikeouts over 28 innings of work, so the strikeout numbers are still there. However, he definitely looks quite a bit more hittable in 2025.
Still, Helsley’s track record speaks for itself. He pitched to the tune of a 2.04 ERA while leading the majors with 49 saves last year, and he posted a 1.25 ERA back in 2022. He also boasts a lifetime 10.7 K/9 rate.
The catch is that the 31-year-old is slated to hit free agency next winter, so the Yankees certainly won’t be parting with significant prospects in any potential deal for Helsley.
Of course, St. Louis is smack dab in the middle of playoff contention, so the chances of the Cardinals actually moving Helsley seem very slim anyway. At least right now.
