Since being dealt to the New York Mets, top star has struggled to regain his All-Star form.
In 14 appearances with New York, he has been hit hard, posting an 11.45 ERA—a dramatic drop-off from the 3.00 ERA he carried earlier in the year with the St. Louis Cardinals.
While that’s troubling for Helsley, it could work in favor of the rebuilding Cardinals. With his trade value slipping, Andrew Wang of Redbird Rants floated the idea that Helsley might end up returning to St. Louis this offseason.
The St. Louis Cardinals dealt Ryan Helsley, who was on an expiring contract, to the New York Mets at the 2025 trade deadline in exchange for three high-upside prospects. The move drew heavy criticism at first, but perceptions began to shift once Helsley took the mound in New York. In just over a month, his season ERA climbed from 3.00 to 4.98.
According to Spotrac, Helsley is now projected to land a three-year, $46 million deal — a far cry from the hefty contract he appeared poised to command earlier in the year. That dip in value could open the door for a reunion with the Cardinals, who may have balked at his previous price tag.
“Helsley, who was the Cardinals’ longest-tenured player before the trade, had expressed interest in returning to St. Louis this offseason,” Andrew Wang of Redbird Rants wrote. “At the time, such a reunion seemed unrealistic for a rebuilding club. Committing major money to a reliever didn’t make sense for a team with modest expectations heading into 2026. But with Helsley’s value dropping, he now looks like an ideal buy-low candidate who may need to accept a shorter, cheaper deal to reestablish his market.”
A return to St. Louis could help Helsley find his footing again. Drafted by the Cardinals in the fifth round in 2015, he spent six and a half seasons with the organization, even earning National League Reliever of the Year honors in 2024. That familiarity, Wang suggests, might provide the perfect setting for a rebound.