The St. Louis Cardinals have been surrounded by trade speculation this season as the July 31 deadline approaches. Despite that, the team is performing well, sitting just five games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Amid all the trade buzz, one of their All-Star players may be looking to stay put.
According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, closer Ryan Helsley is reportedly open to negotiating a new contract with the team. While there have been trade rumors involving the 30-year-old, the Cardinals’ recent strong play could motivate the front office to work out a long-term extension instead.
“There’s a lot to unpack here,” Goold said. “To start, no, there haven’t been recent negotiations, but that doesn’t mean the opportunity has passed. Helsley is still open to the conversation, which means the team could choose to initiate talks. As for his value, top relievers earn around $20 million, and Helsley would likely command more than $16 million annually—possibly as part of a four-year deal with an option for a fifth, or a straight five-year agreement.”
Helsley is set to become a free agent after the season and would likely draw significant interest across the league. With the Cardinals in playoff contention, they face a key decision: keep Helsley for the stretch run and risk losing him for nothing, or strike a deal to retain him long-term.
So far this season, Helsley has been excellent, posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.429 WHIP over 21 innings, along with 23 strikeouts and 13 saves.