Cardinals trade Helsley to Mets for 3 prospects
The New York Mets added another big bullpen arm for the stretch run, acquiring two-time All-Star closer Ryan Helsley from the St. Louis Cardinals for infield prospect Jesus Baez and right-handed pitching prospects Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt, they announced Wednesday.
The move for Helsley comes just hours after the Mets acquired sidearm reliever Tyler Rogers from the San Francisco Giants and follows the rival Philadelphia Phillies' addition of hard-throwing closer Jhoan Duran from Minnesota. New York lost to the San Diego Padres 5-0 Wednesday, moving the team into a virtual tie with Philadelphia atop the NL East.
Helsley, the reigning NL Reliever of the Year, also joins fellow Trevor Hoffman Award winner Edwin Díaz in the Mets' bullpen. Helsley will likely set up Díaz to form what might instantly become one of the best late-inning duos in baseball.
The 31-year-old has taken a small step back from his award-winning 2024 campaign but is still enjoying a fine season, sporting a 3.00 ERA, 3.51 FIP, and 1.39 WHIP along with 21 saves and a 10.3 K/9 rate over 36 appearances. Helsley tallied a major-league best 49 saves in 2024, his first year closing full-time.
Helsley, a pending free agent, was one of the most coveted prizes of this year's deadline. The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, and Toronto Blue Jays all reportedly pursued him in recent days.
The Cardinals drafted Helsley out of Division II Northeastern State in 2015, and he reached the majors four years later. He was St. Louis' longest-tenured player before the trade.
Two of the three prospects heading to the Cardinals - Baez and Dohm - were ranked among the Mets' top 30 by MLB.com.
A natural shortstop who's also seen time at third and second, Baez signed a contract with New York for $275,000 in 2022. The 20-year-old Dominican started this season in Low-A St. Lucie but was promoted to High-A Brooklyn in April. He owns a .242/.332/.390 slash line with 10 homers, 42 RBIs, and seven steals across 75 total games this year.
Dohm, 22, was the Mets' third-round pick out of Mississippi State last summer. The Indiana native owns a 2.87 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 77 strikeouts across 18 appearances (17 starts) between St. Lucie and Brooklyn this year.
Elissalt, 23, has also split his 2025 campaign between St. Lucie and Brooklyn. He sports a 3.04 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 65 strikeouts and 21 walks over 20 total appearances, including seven starts.