On Friday afternoon, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers reached an agreement on a trade sending Brewers’ All-Star closer Devin Williams to the Yankees. The deal surprised the baseball community, as Milwaukee’s front office had reportedly dismissed trade rumors involving Williams just weeks earlier. The Brewers were expected to retain Williams until the 2025 MLB trade deadline but ultimately chose to move him now.
This situation draws parallels to the St. Louis Cardinals’ closer, Ryan Helsley, as both pitchers are on expiring contracts and rank among the league’s top arms. However, while the Brewers-Yankees trade raises speculation, it’s unlikely to spur a Helsley deal. Unlike Milwaukee, St. Louis has more financial flexibility and a stronger chance of re-signing Helsley, who is projected to land an $81 million contract in 2025 free agency, according to Spotrac. If the Cardinals believe they can retain him, they’ll likely hold onto him.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s trade signals they are not entering a full rebuild. Although they lost Willy Adames, the return for Williams included a big-league starting pitcher and a major-league-ready infielder rather than just prospects. The Brewers could still compete in 2024, but if they fall out of contention by the trade deadline, they might consider larger changes.
In short, while there are similarities between Helsley and Williams’ situations, key differences make a Helsley trade less likely. St. Louis will likely evaluate their options leading up to the trade deadline, but the Williams deal doesn’t necessarily push them toward trading Helsley.
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