The St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly considering a rebuild this offseason, which might involve trading two of their top players, Ryan Helsley and Nolan Arenado. Both All-Stars would command substantial prospect returns, though assessing a player’s trade value during the offseason can be challenging. FanSided’s Curt Bishop proposed a blockbuster trade idea that would send both Helsley and Arenado to the Los Angeles Dodgers. While this move could significantly benefit the Dodgers, it might be a nightmare for the rest of the league.
Proposed Trade Details:
- Los Angeles Dodgers receive: RHP Ryan Helsley, 3B Nolan Arenado
- St. Louis Cardinals receive: C/OF Daulton Rushing (No. 1 prospect), RHP Nick Frasso (No. 12 prospect), INF/OF Austin Gauthier (No. 24 prospect)
According to Curt Bishop, for this trade to happen, the Cardinals would need to cover part of Arenado’s contract. “He has three years and $74 million remaining, and he’s simply not that caliber of player anymore,” Bishop explained. “However, packaging Arenado with Helsley could allow St. Louis to secure a significant prospect return that’s close to MLB-ready.”
That said, this deal seems highly unlikely for several reasons. While Daulton Rushing is an excellent prospect, he’s the only top-10 talent included. Frasso and Gauthier are promising but not enough to justify trading both All-Stars. The Cardinals would likely demand two to three additional prospects, with several from the Dodgers’ top 10. Additionally, St. Louis might hesitate to trade both Arenado and Helsley to the Dodgers, as it would significantly strengthen a league rival.
Ultimately, while baseball is a business, the Cardinals are unlikely to accept this package unless the return better matches the value of their star players.
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