Inside The Cardinals

Blockbuster Padres-Cardinals Trade Would Help San Diego Steal NL West

Could the Padres make a trade for Ryan Helsley?
Zach Pressnell|
Apr 22, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley (56) pitches the ball against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
Apr 22, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley (56) pitches the ball against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

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San Diego PadresSt. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals have seemingly entered a rebuild this season. They've opted to let a few veterans walk away in free agency during the offseason and reportedly shopped Nolan Arenado in trades. Though they haven't traded Arenado yet, the Cardinals could still look to trade some of their stars this season.

The top name the Cardinals will likely look to trade is their closer, Ryan Helsley. Helsley is one of the best closers in baseball, he's on an expiring contract, and it seems unlikely the Cardinals will re-sign him in free agency.

When looking at the teams across the league that could look to swing a trade for Helsley, a few stand out. But the San Diego Padres make sense in the same way they made sense in trading for Tanner Scott last season.

The Padres have a closer, Robert Suarez, but there's no issue in having multiple star relievers. The Los Angeles Dodgers, the Padres' rival, have three or four closer-esque relievers in their bullpen.

The Padres could look to close the talent gap with the Dodgers by bringing in Helsley. Having him paired with Suarez at the backend of games would be a huge weapon for San Diego.

The return for Helsley would be quite massive for the Cardinals and the Padres have never shown any hesitation in sending huge prospect hauls to acquire stars like the righty. Last season, they sent quite a massive prospect haul to acquire Scott. This season, they could capitalize on their fast start by acquiring Helsley.

More MLB: Cardinals Predicted To Trade $81 Million Star To Loaded Dodgers

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "St. Louis Cardinals On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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