Assessing Trade Deadline Deals for the Cardinals in 2025: Interim pitching reinforcements pave the way for Chaim Bloom
The St. Louis Cardinals made a significant move towards a rebuilding phase at the 2025 trade deadline, trading key veteran relievers Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, and Steven Matz. In return, the team received a total of six prospects, signalling a clear shift from immediate contention to long-term roster development under incoming baseball operations chief Chaim Bloom [1][2][5].
The trades involved the team's three rental relievers. Closer Ryan Helsley was sent to the Mets in exchange for power-hitting shortstop Jesus Baez and right-handed pitcher Nate Dohm, both high-upside prospects [1]. Phil Maton was traded to the Texas Rangers for right-handed pitcher Skyler Hales and left-handed pitcher Mason Molina, along with international bonus pool money [3]. The details of the players involved in the trade of Steven Matz were not specified in the sources [1][5].
The returns received by the Cardinals were solid, yet unspectacular. Maton reached High-A with a 3.41 ERA and 30.5% strikeout rate in 74 innings, while Hales struggled this season with a 7.64 ERA in 33 innings. Hales, however, was great in Double-A last season, boasting a 2.10 ERA in 30 innings [4].
Blaze Jordan, a corner-infield prospect experiencing a breakout campaign in Boston's system, was part of the package received for Helsley. Jordan has a .821 OPS in 44 games at Triple-A this year, portending a quick path to the big leagues [6]. Jesus Baez, the only prospect from the trade to crack MLB Pipeline's top ten, is a 20-year-old infielder with a .743 OPS in High-A this season [7].
The package received by the Cardinals for Helsley, a pitcher with 105 saves and a 2.67 ERA, is considered underwhelming, given the high prices for closers at the deadline [2]. However, the team's focus on bolstering the farm system has strengthened their Top 30 prospects list with three newly ranked players [2].
This trade deadline marked a significant pivot for the Cardinals, sacrificing immediate bullpen strength for a deep infusion of promising young talent aimed at sustained future success [1][2][5]. The work of shaping this roster for the future has just begun.
[1] St. Louis Cardinals Trade Ryan Helsley to Mets for Jesus Baez, Nate Dohm, Frank Elissalt
[2] St. Louis Cardinals' Trade Deadline Moves Focus on Future
[3] Cardinals Trade Phil Maton to Texas Rangers for Skylar Hales, Mason Molina
[4] Prospect Report: Cardinals' Hales, Mariners' Bray, More
[5] Cardinals Trade Steven Matz to Red Sox for Blaze Jordan
[6] Blaze Jordan, Corner-Infield Prospect, Experiencing Breakout Campaign
[7] Top 100 Prospects: The Next Big Thing
The St. Louis Cardinals swapped Ryan Helsley, a pitcher with impressive statistics, to the Mets, acquiring power-hitting shortstop Jesus Baez and right-handed pitcher Nate Dohm, both highly-touted prospects currently in Boston's system, as part of a strategy focusing on strengthening their farm system [1].
In contrast, the deal that sent Phil Maton to the Texas Rangers yielded right-handed pitcher Skylar Hales, left-handed pitcher Mason Molina, and international bonus pool money, signalling a shift towards long-term roster development for the team [3].
