Cardinals' prospect Jesús Baez: Analysis of the trade for Ryan Helsley from St. Louis to Detroit
St. Louis Cardinals Acquire Top Prospect Jesus Baez in Trade
The St. Louis Cardinals have made a significant move in their farm system, acquiring top prospect Jesus Baez from the New York Mets in a trade that also saw Ryan Helsley head to the Big Apple.
According to MLB Pipeline, Baez is currently ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system. This ranking places him just behind Triple-A catcher Jimmy Crooks within the Cardinals organization.
Baez was previously the No. 8 prospect in the Mets system before the trade. MLB Pipeline grades Baez's tools on the 20-80 scale as follows: Hit 50, Power 60, Run 40, Arm 60, Field 50, with an overall grade of 50. He is regarded as a dynamic infield talent with a strong power profile.
The trade saw Helsley, the longest-tenured Cardinal, move to the Mets, strengthening their bullpen alongside Tyler Rogers. The Mets now boast a formidable relief corps, a key factor in their pursuit of playoff contention.
Baez, a versatile infielder who has played shortstop, second base, and third base in the minors, is expected to shift to a permanent position at third base due to his plus arm tool. He has posted impressive numbers during his minor league career, including a max exit velocity of 109.8 MPH this year.
In return for Helsley, the Cardinals received three prospects: Baez, Nate Dohm, and Frank Elissalt. Baez has been promoted quickly to High-A and is currently slashing .244/.334/.406. He has 10 home runs, 42 runs batted in, and 49 strikeouts to 32 walks across 254 at-bats in High-A.
It is worth noting that while Baez is highly regarded as a prospect, rankings should not be over-emphasized. They do not account for internal team evaluations and a player's timeline could be more important than their ranking within a farm system.
Before the trade, Baez started the year off in Low-A with a .217/.308/.217 slash line across only six games. However, he has shown resilience and has quickly adapted to the higher levels of competition.
Baez's tenure with the Cardinals was not without incident, as he tore his meniscus in his right knee near the end of the 2024 season. The recovery period and its impact on his performance will be closely monitored.
Despite the setback, the Cardinals are optimistic about Baez's potential and believe he has the tools to make a significant impact in their Major League lineup in the near future.
The St. Louis Cardinals have procured a promising baseball talent in Jesus Baez, previously ranked as the No. 8 prospect in the New York Mets system, to bolster their farm system. Baez, a versatile infielder with a strong power profile, is currently ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Cardinals organization, demonstrating his potential to contribute significantly to the MLB team.
