Ryan Helsley to Toronto: Blue Jays Reportedly Set to Land Cardinals’ Closer
The Toronto Blue Jays could find a solution to the closer issue.
On Friday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com released an article reporting that the Blue Jays have shown interest in trading for St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley.
Helsley, 30, is a right-handed pitcher selected in the fifth round of the 2015 draft by the Cardinals. He debuted in relief for the Cardinals in 2019 and had subpar results in 2020 and 2021 before breaking out in 2022.
That season, Helsley had a 1.25 ERA and a 2.34 FIP in 64.2 innings pitched, with a 39.3 K% and an 8.4 BB% for a 2 fWAR. In 2023, Helsley had a 2.45 ERA and a 2.25 FIP in 36.2 innings pitched with a high K% of 35.6%, while his 11.6 BB% was the highest since 2021.
Helsley’s career year was in 2024, as he had a 2.04 ERA and a 2.41 FIP in 66.1 innings pitched with a 29.7 K% and an 8.6 BB% for 2.3 fWAR. Moreover, he picked up a league-leading 49 saves in 53 opportunities.
What makes Helsley so good is his pitch mix. The 30-year-old features a four-seam fastball that averages 99.6 mph that’s used 45% of the time. His best pitch, at least according to Baseball Savant’s Run Value, is his slider, which had an incredible Run Value of 13. His fastball was also above average in 2024, as it had a Run Value of 4.
The 2025 season will be Helsley’s final under team control, as he’s set to become a free agent at the end of the season. According to MLB Trade Rumors, the right-handed pitcher is expected to make $6.9 million in arbitration.
Acquiring Helsley would essentially set the Blue Jays’ rotation. Chad Green is currently their best reliever, with Yimi García, Erik Swanson, and Nick Sandlin likely getting high-leverage duties. Other relievers in the pen include Ryan Burr, Brendon Little, Josh Walker, Zach Pop, and Tommy Nance. The last two have no more option years remaining, meaning they need to make the roster out of Spring Training or they’ll have to be designated for assignment.
We’ll see if the Blue Jays make another big trade this off-season!
