The St. Louis Cardinals appear ready to embark on the long-anticipated rebuild that has been looming for seasons. As part of this effort, the team may consider trading several veteran players, including Ryan Helsley, Nolan Arenado, and Sonny Gray. According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the Cardinals could make a significant splash in this rebuild, potentially trading Helsley, their star closer, to the Philadelphia Phillies in a major offseason move.
Spotrac projects Helsley to command a six-year, $182 million deal when he becomes a free agent after the 2025 season. Bowden highlights the mutual benefit of such a trade: “The Cardinals are focused on rebuilding, and the Phillies need a hard-throwing, impact reliever. After losing two key high-leverage relievers—Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez—to free agency, the Phillies have prioritized strengthening their bullpen this offseason.” Helsley, the 2023 Trevor Hoffman Award winner as the National League’s top closer, recorded an impressive 2.04 ERA, 49 saves, and 79 strikeouts over 66 1/3 innings last season.
Bowden also proposed a potential blockbuster trade scenario in which the Cardinals package Helsley and Arenado to the Phillies in exchange for third baseman Alec Bohm and a collection of prospects. This hypothetical deal would address the Phillies’ need for an elite closer and a replacement for Bohm, while giving the Cardinals a young All-Star at third base and alleviating Arenado’s sizable contract burden.
Though there is no indication that such a trade has been formally discussed, the proposed framework aligns with both teams’ objectives. A deal of this magnitude could make sense, and given each team’s current needs, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them engage in trade talks this offseason.
