The St. Louis Cardinals are finally poised to enter the rebuild that many expected a few seasons ago, and they could look to trade several key veterans, including Ryan Helsley, Nolan Arenado, and Sonny Gray.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic predicts that the Cardinals will make a significant move by trading Helsley, their star closer, to the Philadelphia Phillies this winter.
Helsley, who is projected to secure a six-year, $82 million deal when he hits free agency after the 2025 season, is coming off a standout year, earning the Trevor Hoffman Award as the best closer/reliever in the National League with a 2.04 ERA, 49 saves, and 79 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings.
Bowden explains that the Phillies, who lost key high-leverage relievers Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez to free agency, are focused on strengthening their bullpen and could make Helsley a top priority.
Bowden suggests a potential blockbuster trade where the Cardinals could package Helsley and Arenado together, sending them to the Phillies in exchange for third baseman Alec Bohm and additional prospects.
This trade would address the Phillies’ need for a hard-throwing reliever and a replacement for Bohm, while the Cardinals would receive a young All-Star third baseman and move on from Arenado’s substantial contract.
Although there have been no rumors to suggest such a deal is in the works, Bowden believes it’s a trade that could make a lot of sense given the needs of both teams. It’s not hard to imagine these two sides coming together on a deal this offseason.
