The St. Louis Cardinals prefer not to trade defending MLB saves leader Ryan Helsley, even though he will be a free agent at the end of the season. Cardinals president of baseball operations told The Athletic’s Katie Woo that the team doesn’t intend to move Helsley at the trade deadline. The organization has been noncommittal about how it will approach the deadline in general. However, Helsley was a player that many teams are likely to inquire about.
Cardinals Don’t Want to Trade Star Closer
Helsley a Valuable Trade Chip
Helsley was an All-Star last season and led the League in saves with 49. The right-handed flamethrower is set to hit unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career at the end of the season. If the Cardinals want to re-sign him, it will likely come with a hefty price tag. As the team is starting a phase of youth development, it is unclear if they will be willing to enter a bidding war for Helsley this offseason.
Despite having an up and down 2025 season so far, Helsley is still one of the game’s premiere closers. He is tied for 12th in the MLB with saves at 17, eight behind the league leader, Josh Hader. Helsley often touches 100 mph with his fastball and couples it with a slider that catches hitters off guard.
Mozeliak said he’d be hesitant to trade top relievers, even those on expiring deals. (He did not name them, but there are 3: Matz, Maton, Helsley)
“It would definitely be a concern. Right now, I don’t think we have intentions of doing that, but again, we’ll see where we’re at.” https://t.co/iJFiK31h8V
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) July 6, 2025
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There is recent precedent for trading an All-Star closer. In 2022, the Milwaukee Brewers moved Hader and got a four-player package from the San Diego Padres. The deal included a closer in return, Taylor Rogers, and two of the Padres top 30 prospects. Hader signed a mammoth five-year $95 million deal with the Houston Astros a year and a half later.
The Cardinals could look for a similar mix of MLB players and prospects if they do decide to move Helsley.
Cardinals Hesitant to Move Helsley
With the All-Star Break fast approaching, the Cardinals still find themselves in Postseason contention. Even with the franchise setting its focus on 2026 and beyond, their success so far this year has put them in limbo on whether they want to buy or sell at the deadline. Trading Helsley would have huge consequences on the team’s ability to win close games.
“It would definitely be a concern,” Mozeliak told Woo about trading the team’s key relievers. “Right now, I don’t think we have any intention of doing that, but again, we’ll see where we’re at.”
The Cardinals’ bullpen has also been steadied by a lone MLB free agency signing this offseason, Phil Maton, and longtime starter-turned-reliever Steven Matz this season. Mozeliak indicated to The Athletic that the team would rather not move any of their key bullpen arms.
A Wait and See Approach
How the Cardinals will approach the deadline is yet to be determined. Mozeliak has repeatedly said that they will wait to see how the team is performing as the deadline approaches before deciding whether the team will be buyers or sellers.
“We have to be a little patient, see how this plays out,” Mozeliak told KMOX Radio on Sunday. “But I hope we have a really strong, molten July and we have some tough decisions to make come July 31st.”
Mozeliak has stated that if the team is competitive by the end of July, ownership will be willing to spend. However, Mozeliak told Woo that the organization could wait to make that decision until 72 hours before the deadline.
The Cardinals are also coming off a brutal week. The team was shut out four times in the past week and only managed to win one game. The schedule softens a bit in the week leading up to the All-Star Break, but if the Cardinals don’t pull out of their funk by then, the decision could become clearer for the front office.
Main Photo Credits: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
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