It doesn’t take much research to figure out why the Philadelphia Phillies might be talking to the St. Louis Cardinals about closer Ryan Helsley.
The Phillies entered 2025 with significant postseason aspirations, but they’ve stumbled a bit out of the gates, posting a 15-13 record after a weekend series against the Cubs. The starting pitchers have put together an ERA of 3.42, which is sixth in Major League Baseball. The offense has had its issues, but Philadelphia ranks 11th in average (.249) and 12th in runs per game (4.48), which is good enough to win with quality pitching.
Unfortunately for the Phillies, they have one of the worst bullpens in the league. Collectively, the team’s relief pitchers rank last in batting average (.278) and second-to-last in ERA (5.28).
Speculation is that Philadelphia will target relief pitching as its main need before the trade deadline, preferably a right-hander who can close games. The Cardinals happen to have just such a player, and USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale, in the news and notes section of his April 27 article, specifically cited Philadelphia among a few teams that are "keeping a close eye” on Helsley.
Nightengale also suggested that the Arizona Diamondbacks “have interest” in acquiring Helsley, the pending free agent who last year led MLB with 49 saves. This season, Helsley is 1-0 with four saves and a 3.60 ERA.
Ryan Helsley Would Fill Huge Need for Phillies
Helsley would be a huge addition to a Philadelphia relief corps that has posted some ugly numbers.
A key contributor to the team’s bullpen struggles – and a target of fan angst – has been Jordan Romano. Signed to a one-year deal after a 2024 season that ended in July with elbow surgery, the two-time All-Star with Toronto has given up 15 runs on 15 hits in 10.2 innings for an ERA of 12.19.
Other struggling Phillies relievers, who have all pitched nine or more innings, include Carlos Hernandez (7.20), Orion Kerkering (5.23), Jose Ruiz (5.40) and Joe Ross (5.02).
As for a potential package the Cardinals might receive for Helsley, a good comp is the trade from deadline day of last season that sent Tanner Scott from Miami to San Diego. The Padres received Scott and right-handed middle reliever Bryan Hoeing for left-handed pitcher Robby Snelling (Padres No. 2 prospect), right-handed pitcher Adam Mazur (No. 4), infielder/outfielder Graham Pauley (No. 5) and infielder Jay Beshears (No. 24).
Nightengale reports that, while desperate to address their relief issues, the Phillies “are adamant” that any trade will not include their top two prospects, right-handed pitcher Andrew Painter or shortstop Aidan Miller.
Cardinals Could Demand Significant Prospect Package for Ryan Helsley
In a trade deadline preview for ESPN, David Schoenfield cited left-handed hitting outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. (Philadelphia’s No. 10 prospect) and Jean Cabrera (No. 11), a right-handed pitcher currently at Double-A Reading, as the Phillies’ most likely trade candidates.
Rincones has a pretty interesting back story, having spent several years of his childhood growing up in Scotland, and he was actually cut from his high school team in his first two years. However, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound slugger has put on some impressive power displays since getting drafted in the third round of the 2022 draft, and he has 52 doubles, 29 home runs and 103 RBIs in 212 minor league games, although he also has 227 strikeouts.
“He’s a really impressive guy,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said during spring training. “Very strong, great body, hit the ball all over the place. Can hit it out of any part of the ballpark. Play solid defense. He’s a gamer. He plays every pitch.”
Cabrera, a 6-0, 145-pounder who was signed as a 17-year-old international free agent in 2019, has a 17-19 record through four-plus minor league seasons, with a 3.78 ERA and 326 strikeouts and 107 walks in 307 innings. According to a blog focused on the Phillies’ minor league system, Cabrera, who was not listed among Philadelphia’s top 30 prospects prior to 2025, took significant steps in 2024 to establish himself as “one of the better pitching prospects in the Phillies system.”
“His fastball will sit 93-96, with him mostly using a sinker, but mixing in a 4-seamer as well,” the analysis stated. “His sweeper is an average pitch, but he got much better at putting it on the edges of the zone for strikes. Cabrera’s best pitch, however, is his change which he throws in the mid to high 80s where it tunnels off his fastball and falls away. He is working on a cutter to help give him another pitch for hitters to think about. Despite is size, Cabrera has pitched a decent number of innings and profiles as a #4 starter.”
Potential Trade Chips for Ryan Helsley Include Son of Former MLB Star Carl Crawford
Among other potential trade chips, outfielder Justin Crawford, Philadelphia’s No. 3 prospect (No. 60 overall in MLB), was drafted in the first round (17th overall) of the 2022 draft. The 21-year-old son of former Major Leaguer Carl Crawford batted over .300 in each of the past two seasons as he climbed up the Phillies’ farm system, and he has 107 stolen bases in 236 minor league games.
“The son of Carl Crawford is really fast and really good at stealing bases,” wrote ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel in a scouting report. “His scouting report is a little tricky because he has some raw power but doesn't lift the ball and has incredible bat-to-ball ability, but he chases out of the zone far too much. While his plus-plus running ability has led to stolen bases, he is just OK defensively in center field. His baserunning is more refined, stealing 99 bases [prior to the 2025 season] in his pro career, good for an 83% rate of success.”
The Phillies’ top pitching prospect not named Andrew Painter, Moises Chace (No. 5) is a 21-year-old right-hander currently playing at Double-A Reading. A 6-foot-1, 213-pounder from Venezuela with what McDaniel states is “arguably the best fastball in the minor leagues,” Chace is 14-14 in his short professional career with a 4.47 ERA and 329 strikeouts in 237.2 innings.
“His strike-throwing of the pitch is already at the major league average for fastballs, so there's a thought that Chace could be a short reliever in the big leagues right now,” McDaniel wrote. “His sweeper and changeup both flash above-average potential, and he was just added to the 40-man roster this winter, so I'd expect him to spend this whole season in the upper minors learning to be a starter, with the option to relieve in the big league pen at the end of the year. There's a solid floor here because he's likely a decent big league reliever right now, but there's also the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter if he can learn to turn over a big league lineup.”
Another right-handed pitcher in the Phillies system, Mick Abel (No. 8) is a 6-5, 190-pounder who was drafted in the first round (15th overall) in 2020. After having command issues in his first few pro seasons, Abel has had a good start in 2025 with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and “may be turning a corner,” according to analysis from Future Star Series.
“He can spot that breaking ball and hitters know it,” an opposing hitting coach was quoted as saying. “You want to hit the fastball, and there have been times he’s allowed you to do that, but watching him this season, there’s another gear to things, and more consistent pitch quality.”