St. Louis Cardinals closer and reigning AL Reliever of the Year Ryan Helsley has been at the forefront of hot talk regarding the MLB trade deadline on July 31, with many believe that the Cardinals will be selling in this year’s trading festivities, despite still having a horse in the NL Wild Card race.
And with Helsley re-signing with the Red Birds after this year highly unlikely, a trade for the starter is a very high possibility.
“Helsley led the NL with 49 saves last season while posting a 2.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 10.7 K/9 to finish ninth in NL Cy Young balloting,” wrote Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter.
And according to Zach Pressnell from St. Louis Cardinals, the best place for the flamethrowing righty is in Southern California with the reigning World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“The Dodgers are notoriously aggressive at the trade deadline. They’re likely going to be open to trading for practically any top talent on the market,” Pressnell wrote.”Helsley would fill a huge hole left in their bullpen. Los Angeles’ bullpen has been destroyed by injuries, most recently a forearm injury to Tanner Scott.”
In a bullpen that also includes All-Star Kirby Yates, the Dodgers have yet to find a surefire closer since Kenley Jansen’s departure from the team after the 2021 season.
And adding Helsley, another flamethrower with a devastating breaking ball and no pressure facing high-stress situations, it will be like the team is revisiting Jansen’s prime years.
