Cardinals $8.2 Million Star Takes Hard Stance On Future: 'Two-Way Street'

Will the Cardinals keep the superstar around?
Sep 11, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;  A detailed view of the 9/11 ribbon on a St. Louis Cardinals hat in the dugout before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Sep 11, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; A detailed view of the 9/11 ribbon on a St. Louis Cardinals hat in the dugout before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
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The St. Louis Cardinals have had a really weird offseason to this point.

St. Louis has been in a lot of rumors but hasn't really done anything of substance yet. The Cardinals have a few weeks to go until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training but it just has been an odd offseason.

One player who has been in trade rumors throughout the offseason is All-Star closer Ryan Helsley. At this point, the Cardinals haven't dealt him and the two sides settled on an $8.2 million deal for 2025 in his final year before free agency.

Will he stick around after the season? Well, it sounds like if he had his way he would but the two sides haven't had long-term extension talks to this point, as shared by the Belleville News-Democrat's Jeff Jones.

"Ryan Helsley said he was 'almost certain' he would be traded this winter," Jones said. "His agent called about six weeks after the end of the season to tell him he heard from Mozeliak and the Cardinals planned to hold him; Helsley, at that point, thought the call was going to be a trade.

"Part of the reason he thought that was likely: 'Never really been any talk about extensions or anything like that.' He said he'd love to stay, 'but you know, at the same time, it's a two-way street, and if only one side wants it, it's not going to work out.'"

Will the Cardinals keep Helsley around for the foreseeable future?

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Patrick McAvoy
PATRICK MCAVOY

Patrick McAvoy's experiences include local and national sports coverage at the New England Sports Network with a focus on baseball and basketball. Outside of journalism, Patrick also is pursuing an MBA at Brandeis University. After quickly rising as one of the most productive writers on the site, he expanded his reach to write for Baseball Essential, a national baseball site in Sports Illustrated Media Group. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu