The New York Mets have made a significant move to bolster their bullpen for a postseason run, acquiring two-time All-Star closer Ryan Helsley from the St. Louis Cardinals. The trade, finalized on Wednesday, sends three minor league prospects—shortstop Jesus Baez and right-handed pitchers Nate Dohm and Frank Elissalt—to St. Louis in exchange for the hard-throwing reliever.
The acquisition is the latest in a series of aggressive moves by the Mets, who entered Wednesday with a narrow half-game lead in the National League East. The team has been actively addressing its relief corps ahead of the trade deadline, having also brought in right-handed submariner Tyler Rogers from the San Francisco Giants and left-hander Gregory Soto from the Baltimore Orioles. These additions aim to shore up a bullpen that has shown signs of strain, posting a 4.87 ERA since June 1, which ranked 25th in the majors over that span, according to ESPN.
Helsley, 31, is expected to transition into a high-leverage setup role, creating a formidable late-inning tandem with the Mets’ current All-Star closer, Edwin Díaz. This move provides New York with two elite, flame-throwing options to lock down the final innings of crucial games. The urgency of the move was underscored by the rival Philadelphia Phillies acquiring Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran on the same day, signaling a bullpen arms race in the division.
A pending free agent after this season, Helsley was one of the most coveted relievers on the market. He has been a dominant force for the Cardinals, particularly since 2022. In 2024, he led all of Major League Baseball with 49 saves, setting a new single-season franchise record for St. Louis. Over the last three seasons (2022-24), he compiled 82 saves with a sparkling 1.83 ERA. This season, Helsley has a 3.00 ERA with 21 saves and 41 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched, per Baseball-Reference. While his fastball, which averages over 99 mph, has been more hittable this year, he remains an elite arm with a proven track record of success in high-pressure situations.
The trade was widely anticipated, with Helsley himself telling reporters just days earlier that he believed there was a 90% chance he would be moved. For the Cardinals, who have struggled to gain consistent momentum, the deal allows them to capitalize on Helsley’s value by acquiring promising young talent for the future.
The return package for St. Louis is headlined by Jesus Baez, a 20-year-old infielder who was ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the Mets’ farm system. In 75 games across Low-A and High-A this season, Baez has hit .242 with 10 home runs and a .722 OPS. He is joined by two promising pitchers. Nate Dohm, 22, has posted a 2.87 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 62.2 innings between Class A and High-A. Frank Elissalt, 23, has also impressed at the same levels, recording a 3.04 ERA with a stellar 0.99 WHIP and 65 strikeouts across 56.1 innings, as reported by CBS Sports.
With the trade deadline looming, the Mets have clearly signaled their intent to compete for a championship this year. By adding Helsley, Rogers, and Soto, they have transformed their bullpen into a potential strength, aiming to shorten games and protect leads as they head into the final stretch of the season. Sources indicate the Mets may not be finished, as they continue to seek an upgrade in center field before Thursday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline.
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[…] bullpen into one of the league’s most formidable units. The Mets landed two-time All-Star closer Ryan Helsley from the St. Louis Cardinals, veteran submarine-style […]