Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Could Target Electric Phillies Prospect In Ryan Helsley Trade

The Cardinals could look to land a massive haul in return for pitcher Ryan Helsley.
Zach Pressnell|
May 17, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley (56) pitches during the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
May 17, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley (56) pitches during the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images

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St. Louis CardinalsPhiladelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies desperately need to add a closer this season. They lost Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman in free agency and didn't adequately replace them. The team has been relying on José Alvarado to be the main closer this season, but they recently lost him to an 80-game suspension due to a failed drug test.

With Alvarado out for 80 games and the postseason, the Phillies will need to turn to the trade block to find a star closer. The best option who's expected to be on the market is St. Louis Cardinals flame thrower Ryan Helsley.

Helsley would be a perfect fit for the Phillies. He would provide them a very stable closer with the potential to be one of the best bullpen arms in baseball. The righty led the league in saves last season and could look to do so again in Philadelphia.

As a return, the Cardinals could target the Phillies' No. 3 prospect and one of the best outfield prospects in baseball, Justin Crawford.

Crawford is slashing .318/.378/.418 with 14 stolen bases in 40 games this season. He has elite speed and some of the better outfield defense you'll see in the minor leagues. If he can continue to hit well over .300, he's going to be one of the better outfield prospects in baseball.

The Cardinals could use such a talented outfielder to place next to Victor Scott II for the next decade. If the Cardinals are able to add Crawford in a deal for Helsley, they could potentially pair Scott, one of the best and fastest defensive outfielders in baseball, with Crawford, who's one of the best and fastest defensive outfielders in the minor leagues.

More MLB: MLB Writer Suggests Cardinals 'Losing Faith' In Young Star

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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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