The St. Louis Cardinals are shopping their record-setting All-Star closer Ryan Helsley in the 2024 offseason, but he wishes to stay with the only MLB team he has ever played for.
The Cardinals drafted and developed Helsley, who was born in nearby Oklahoma. His latest season, his tenth with the franchise, was remarkable. He had a 2.04 ERA in 66 1/3 innings, and his 49 saves were the most in Cardinals history. Helsley was first named to the All-Star squad, but withdrew due to injury concerns. Kyle Finnegan, the Washington Nationals’ closer, succeeded him on the team.
Now, as Helsley enters his final year of arbitration, a Cardinals franchise in the midst of a rebuilding process faces a difficult reality. Is it worth paying one of the world’s top closers to pitch for a non-contending team?
The Grass Might Not Be Greener for Ryan Helsley
According to John Denton of MLB.com, Helsley’s ultimate outcome would be to continue with the Cardinals.
However, Helsley is also preparing for a possible shift in the coming weeks. The MLB Winter Meetings will take place from December 9 to 12, and previous editions of the event have produced numerous blockbuster agreements.
“If I am dealt, I hope it’s to a team that I can help win,” Helsley said. “But it’d be an emotional day because I grew up rooted for the Cardinals, was drafted by them in 2015, and have spent ten years with them. But, at the end of the day, I have to be professional and move on if necessary.”
The Cardinals, who are aggressively fighting for financial flexibility, will most likely owe Helsley a significant raise in his final year of arbitration. Saves are one of the counting stats used to determine the value of relievers, and Helsley’s strong record will provide him with significant leverage in negotiations.
After 2025, Helsley becomes an unrestricted free agent and might earn a price near the top of the reliever market: between $16 and $20 million in average annual value.
Much depends on the Cardinals’ timetable for contention, but trading Helsley to a team without a legitimate closer, such as the New York Yankees or Toronto Blue Jays, may result in significant advantages for the Cardinals’ farm system.
