The Slumping St. Louis Cardinals and Ryan Helsley's Troubles
St. Louis Cardinals face a harsh trade reality concerning their two-time All-Star
Let's dive into the woes besieging the St. Louis Cardinals as they wrestle with trading closer Ryan Helsley, according to USA Today. Despite his stellar performance last season with a league-leading 49 saves, Helsley's recent lackluster outings seems to be taking a toll on his trade value.
Bob Nightengale wrote, "The Cardinals were banking on holding onto closer Ryan Helsley in the first half of the season to bolster his trade value, but his mixed performances have likely lowered his stock." As of now, Helsley sports a 4.09 ERA overall, with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP in his latest game against the New York Mets.
With a 14-19 season, the Cardinals are in dire need of some answers. They managed a 5-5 record in their last 10 contests, but the struggles continue.
Navigating the Cardinals' Pitching Crisis
Helsley's struggles this season are not typical for the two-time All-Star. Last year, he was the Major League Baseball saves leader, and he even snagged the National League Reliever of the Year title. Yet, so far in 2025, he's endured some difficulties, especially in terms of his control.
MLB analysts are speculating that Helsley may be the top reliever available on the upcoming trade market, boasting a substantial trade demand ahead of the July 31 deadline. With the Cardinals languishing in next-to-last place in the National League Central, they may be considering offloading Helsley to bolster their roster.
The Cardinals have shifted their focus, bringing up top pitching prospect Michael McGreevy from triple-A Memphis to support their pitching staff. They're frantically searching for a consistent and effective combination in their rotation and bullpen.
Things have taken a turn for the worse in St. Louis this season. The team is having trouble securing outs, and their 4-win record away from home is dismal. The Cardinals will face the Mets in a doubleheader on Sunday. If they can't turn their fortunes around soon, it looks like a long, tough season lies ahead.
- With Helsley's struggles this season potentially lowering his trade value, there are rumors suggesting that he could be the top reliever available on the upcoming MLB trade market before the July 31 deadline.
- As the Cardinals continue to grapple with a pitching crisis, they've turned to top pitching prospect Michael McGreevy from triple-A Memphis to aid their struggling rotation and bullpen, with Helsley's draft-day trade potentially on the horizon.
