Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Predicted To Trade $81 Million Star To Hated Division Rival

Will the Cardinals trade Ryan Helsley this season?
Zach Pressnell|
Sep 27, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley (56) reacts to getting the final out against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
Sep 27, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley (56) reacts to getting the final out against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

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Chicago CubsSt. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are in a clear rebuild and the next step of this rebuild is likely to be trading Ryan Helsley.

Helsley is on an expiring contract and Spotrac projects him to sign for around $81 million in free agency next winter. It's unlikely the Cardinals re-sign him next offseason, so a trade right now would make a lot of sense, especially if St. Louis can land a huge haul for him.

Conor Liguori of Athlon Sports recently predicted the Cardinals would eventually trade Helsley to the Chicago Cubs in a rare interdivisional trade.

"In a trade with the Cardinals for Helsley, the Cubs would likely have to depart with two of their top 30 prospects but might be able to avoid dealing multiple players in the top 10," Liguori wrote. "The Cubs could also add a controllable bullpen arm, like Tyson Miller, in the trade.

"If the Cardinals are out of the playoff race by the trade deadline, trading Helsley for prospects and improving the farm system may be the organization's preferred course of action as they enter what they hope will be a quick rebuild. For the Cubs, Helsley can become the club's full-time closer, and Pressly can transition to a setup man, a role he thrived in for several years with the Astros and Minnesota Twins."

It'll likely take the Cubs more than two top 30 prospects to pry Helsley away from the Cardinals. He's likely going to be sought after by every contending team in the league. St. Louis would probably prefer to trade the righty out of the division, so Chicago may need to blow the Cardinals out of the water with a trade offer to land Helsley.

At the end of the day, the Cardinals need to extract as much value out of their star closer as possible. This could be with the Cubs if they're willing to overpay in a deal.

More MLB: Cardinals Predicted To Trade $260 Million Star To Shocking Division Rival

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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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