5 Cardinals most at risk of being traded this offseason

#2 - Ryan Helsley

It's been speculated often now that Ryan Helsley could be moved by the Cardinals this offseason prior to his final year of control. With the way clubs value relievers on the trade market, St. Louis could get a haul in return, sparking a retool similar to that of what the Yankees did when they traded Aroldis Chapman back in 2016.

I would prefer that the Cardinals try and see what Helsley has out of the rotation first, and he has the potential to be that second front-line starter they have been missing for a while now. But assuming the Cardinals are not going to try that, trading him makes a lot of sense.

Extending relievers is a really tricky thing when you get to the kind of numbers Helsley is going to command. Very few closers manage to stay consistent year to year, and while Helsley has done that for St. Louis, he will be entering his 30s and making a ton of money on a long-term deal if the Cardinals do extend him.

Instead, the Cardinals can leverage his value now for valuable pieces in return, accelerating this mini-retool to better set themselves up for 2026 and beyond. When the Yankees traded Chapman as a half-season rental in 2016, they received a top-25 prospect in all of baseball in Gleyber Torres. Helsley with a full year of control should be able to command a top-50 prospect or strong package overall that strengthens the Cardinals' youth in a real way.

As for their current bullpen, assuming they are not a favorite to make the playoffs next year, does it really matter that they do not have a defined closer? That's a tough recipe for a team that is trying to make a run, but since most people seem to believe the club needs to take a step back, a closer is much more of a luxury than a necessity.

The Cardinals can take a year or so to figure out the right bullpen mix or bring in a new closer in 2026 when they are ready to make a push again. But for now, it makes the most sense to capitalize on Helsley's trade value if they are not going to win at a high-level next year.