The Cardinals are off to yet another rocky start. Heading into Wednesday’s series finale against the Mets, they were 15-21 and in last place in the NL Central, 6.5 games back of first.
If their rocky start continues, it’s very likely that the Cardinals could end up being sellers at the trade deadline again. They sold off pieces such as Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty, Paul DeJong, Chris Stratton, and Jordan Hicks at last year’s deadline.
In Monday’s Cardinals chat, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (subscription required) floated around the possibility of the Cardinals being deadline sellers and using Ryan Helsley as a potential trade piece.)
Goold noted that it would be somewhat similar to what the Yankees did in 2016 with pitchers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller as a way to speed up the rebuilding process.
Cardinals could trade Helsley if they sell again
Goold noted that the Cardinals’ current roster is essentially built to be a seller if that is the route they end up taking this year and that “dramatic changes” would be possible.
Given Helsley’s performance early on this season, he would likely net the Cardinals a very hefty return on top prospects, and even some Major League-ready pieces if they want to initiate a quick rebuild.
The Yankees obviously did this back in 2016 and got some solid pieces in return for both Miller and Chapman. Former Yankee Adam Warren went back to New York in the Chapman deal and proved to be a key bullpen piece for them the following year, so it’s very possible that the Cardinals could get something similar for Helsley.
Without Helsley, the Cardinals would likely pivot to either JoJo Romero or Andrew Kittredge for the closer’s role or potentially even give somebody like Keynan Middleton a chance, though any of those pieces could be part of a potential fire sale as well.
