Bullpen Boost! Phillies Land Star Closer in Blockbuster Move
The Philadelphia Phillies could be in the market for a relief pitcher this summer. The team has very few holes entering 2025 but would benefit from adding a high-end reliever as they seek their first World Series since 2008.
Mock trade with team prospect rankings via MLB.com: Phillies send No. 10 OF Gabriel Rincones Jr. and No. 12 RHP Seth Johnson to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ryan Helsley.
Yes, the Phillies signed Jordan Romano to close games, and Orion Kerkering appears to be headed for stardom. Matt Strahm and José Alvarado are proven reliable; overall, this is a good unit.
It would be more of an all-in move than a desperate attempt to plug holes. Sacrificing the future for the present is always risky, but risks are required to reach the pinnacle.
Zack Wheeler (34 years old), J.T. Realmuto (33), Nick Castellanos (33), Bryce Harper (32), Kyle Schwarber (32), Trea Turner (31), and Aaron Nola (31) are all on the wrong side of 30 and this window will not stay open forever.
Plus, as is the case every postseason, you can never have enough arms (particularly bullpen arms).
A potential trade candidate could be Helsley. He has been excellent for years and had a career season in 2024 as he led the Majors in saves (49) and put up a 2.04 ERA and 1.101 WHIP. His fastball is nasty, and he routinely touches triple digits.
Helsley avoided arbitration and will play 2025 on a one-year, $8.2 million contract, making him a possible big name during the trade deadline.
Katie Woo of The Athletic had this to say on Helsley’s status:
“At the end of the 2024 season, it seemed highly likely Helsley would be wearing a different uniform come 2025. In fact, Helsley himself expected to be traded. But [president of baseball operations John] Mozeliak did not want to wave the white flag.”
The Cardinals are in a tricky situation as a franchise, and their direction is unclear. While they are probably not legitimate title threats, they have too much talent to blow everything up.
Their 20th-ranked farm could use a boost, and this move capitalizes on Helsley’s value in a contract year.
Sending Rincones, the potential heir to Nick Castellanos in right field, would be a tough blow, and Johnson has been a fast riser, going from double-A ball to the Big Leagues in 2024. However, even for a rental Helsley, this would be well worth it for Philadelphia.
The Phillies would add one of the league’s premier closers and could head into October with a formidable group of arms.
