The St. Louis Cardinals are on the cusp of either buying or selling at the MLB trade deadline. A strong finish to July could have the team buy, while a lackluster month could result in the team selling.
Sitting on the edge of buying and selling, the Cardinals have plenty of trade chips that teams around baseball are keeping an eye on. One of those players is an All-Star who’d likely fetch top dollar on the market.
However, Katie Woo of The Athletic predicts that the Cardinals will “hold on to Ryan Helsley,” the team’s top trade chip, at the trade deadline.
“Every contending team covets high-leverage firepower in relief.” Woo writes. “But the Cardinals, who are teetering on the competitive ledge themselves, don’t seem inclined to trade him, even with Helsley set for free agency after the season.”
The Cardinals’ two-time All-Star closer would surely fetch a strong return, but still, St. Louis, according to Woo’s prediction, isn’t intending to move their top trade chip.
“St. Louis could net a sizable return by trading its closer, but it’s more likely it holds on to him, extends a qualifying offer for 2026, and hopes for a competitive draft pick if he walks.”
MORE: Trio of Cardinals relievers most likely to be moved at MLB trade deadline
While losing Helsley seems to be a possibility, the right-handed closer does have interest in re-signing with the team. If the Cardinals wanted to spend the money to keep Helsley, their longest tenured player (since 2015), on the roster, they could.
But, this insight from Woo suggests that the Cardinals would rather hold onto him this season, hope he can help the team compete, and if he does walk in the offseason, net a draft pick from his departure.
It’s a very lackluster prediction, as a trade or extension would be much more appealing. However, this scenario from Woo is very likely, especially if the Cardinals are stingy in trade talks and extension negotiations.
St. Louis could lose Helsley, but for Woo, such a loss won’t happen in-season at the deadline. If he leaves, it’d be in the offseason, where the Cardinals could net a draft pick in return for his departure.
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