The St. Louis Cardinals appear to be entering a rebuilding phase this season, having already allowed several veteran players to leave in free agency. Now, they may consider trading key players like Nolan Arenado and Ryan Helsley. Helsley, who is set to become a free agent after the 2025 season, is a strong candidate to be moved. Spotrac projects the Cardinals’ closer will sign an $81 million deal next offseason.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller recently predicted that Helsley will be traded before reaching free agency, projecting that he will finish the season with the Texas Rangers. “Helsley Ends Season With: Texas Rangers,” Miller wrote, highlighting Texas’ uncertainty at the closer position. Despite being a contender in 2023, the Rangers struggled in 2024. They still have a talented roster, especially with Jacob deGrom set to return for a full season. However, after losing Kirby Yates to the Los Angeles Dodgers, they now lack a reliable closer.
Acquiring Helsley would be a significant move for Texas. He led the league in saves in 2024 despite playing for a struggling Cardinals team, and he could likely maintain that level of performance with the Rangers. While trading for him may come at a high cost, it would likely be a worthwhile investment for Texas.