It appears like the St. Louis Cardinals started the offseason with a rebuild, and that choice will continue to influence choices in the future. The Cardinals will have to decide whether to trade Ryan Helsley, their closer, among other things.
David Schoenfield of ESPN recently forecast that the Cardinals will make a big deal this season to break ties with Helsley. At the end of the season, Helsley’s contract expires, and according to Spotrac, he will sign a free agent contract worth $81 million. Since he is an outstanding closer in his walk year, Helsley is the obvious choice here. Schoenfield noted, “If the Cardinals aren’t in it, he’ll be in high demand.” It makes sense to trade Helsley.
The Cardinals probably won’t be competitive by the time the trade deadline comes around, and since Helsley is expected to sign a free agent contract worth almost $100 million, the team will probably lose him at the end of the season anyhow. The Miami Marlins made a huge haul last season in exchange for Tanner Scott, the best reliever available, and this season, the Cardinals have the best closer available in Helsley.
The righty would be a good fit for the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and pretty much any other competing club. The Cardinals will probably get several elite prospects in the deal to get him. Since a Helsley transaction is almost certain to happen, it will undoubtedly be an interesting plot to watch throughout the season.
