The Philadelphia Phillies have their sights set on making a deep postseason run in the National League this October, but to get there, they’ll need to shore up their pitching staffs. Even though the MLB trade deadline is still a few months away, both teams are already exploring options to bring in All-Star-level arms.
The Phillies have shown early interest in trading for St. Louis Cardinals closer this season.
Looking at His current numbers (via ESPN), he holds a 3.60 ERA, a .222 opponents’ batting average, six saves, and a 10-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Phillies, in particular, are desperate for late-inning help. According to FanGraphs, Philadelphia’s bullpen ranks last in batting average against (.277), 29th in ERA (5.46), and 28th in WHIP (1.55).
Much of the bullpen’s struggles can be traced to a few key arms. Jordan Romano entered Sunday with a bloated 13.58 ERA, giving up 14 earned runs and 15 hits across just 9.1 innings. Carlos Hernandez has been hit hard as well, posting a 7.20 ERA in 10 innings, while Jose Ruiz (5.79 ERA) and Joe Ross (5.02 ERA) have combined to surrender 14 earned runs on 27 hits in 24.1 innings.
Adding top star would be a major boost to the Phillies’ bullpen. However, according to Bob Nightengale, Philadelphia has made it clear they won’t part with top prospects Aidan Miller or Andrew Painter in any potential deal. That could create an opportunity for another team, like the Diamondbacks, to step in.
Ryan Helsley contract details (Spotrac): $8.2 million salary in 2025, arbitration-eligible in 2026.
Arizona finds itself in need of bullpen reinforcements, especially with A.J. Puk currently sidelined indefinitely due to an elbow injury. After a recent MRI, Puk is seeking second opinions, leaving the Diamondbacks scrambling for reliable arms. Helsley could be an ideal fit to fill that gap.
A two-time All-Star, Helsley turns 31 in July. He led Major League Baseball in saves last season and took home the NL Reliever of the Year honors. With nearly two full seasons of team control remaining, the Cardinals could command a top prospect in return if they decide to move him before the trade deadline.